DOH awaits confirmatory test of suspected Zika cases in Region 8

PALO, Leyte, Oct. 24 (PNA) – The Department of Health (DOH) regional office here is still waiting for the laboratory result of blood samples taken from 10 persons in Eastern Visayas who suffered symptoms of Zika virus.

This is the latest batch of samples sent for confirmatory testing at the state-run Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Manila. The release of test results takes time considering the high demand for testing from different regions.

“In the collection of samples, our priorities are pregnant women, those suffering Guillain-Barré syndrome, babies with microcephaly and their mothers. The rest were selected following the standard case definition,” said Roderick Boyd Cerro, DOH regional epidemiology and surveillance unit chief.

Result of confirmatory test is expected to be out this week.

Among those with suspected Zika virus are residents of Maasin City in Southern Leyte and Maripipi in Biliran where the DOH declared a chikungunya outbreak. A microcephaly case was noted in Eastern Samar.

Zika virus is transmitted to people through the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito, the same type that carries dengue and chikungunya.

The DOH regional office is “careful” in the selection process considering that testing is expensive. The government spends PHP6,000 to test each suspected case.

The health department’s field office here has been collecting blood samples from suspected patients since March in the bid to detect if Zika is really present in Eastern Visayas region.

“All samples collected earlier from 12 persons who manifested symptoms of Zika virus were found negative of the mosquito-borne disease. The region remains Zika-free,”

Zika, according to DOH illness is usually mild with symptoms lasting two to seven days, but authorities are more concerned with the complication for pregnant women. The baby inside the womb may develop abnormality in the size of its head due to incomplete brain development called microcephaly, according to DOH.

Cerro said the cause of microcephaly is either Zika virus or folic acid deficiency.

The virus has also been associated with the Guillain-Barre syndrome, a poorly understood condition that sometimes results in paralysis.

Earlier, the DOH sent advisories informing the public on the key facts about the disease, transmission, signs and symptoms, complication, prevention, and treatment.

The symptoms are similar to other mosquito-borne diseases, and include fever, skin rashes, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise, and headache.

The DOH asked the public to avoid infection by preventing mosquito bites through use of insect repellents, use of window and door screens, wearing of long-sleeved shirts and long pants.

On a weekly basis, households are advised to empty and scrub, turn over, cover, or throw out items that hold water, such as tires, buckets, planters, toys or trash containers. (PNA)

FPV/SARWELL Q. MENIANO