57 Zika cases in PH – DOH
The Zika virus is detected in the National Capital Region, CALABARZON, Central Luzon, Central Visayas, and Western Visayas
MANILA, Philippines – There are now 57 cases of the Zika virus in the Philippines, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Thursday, February 2.
Of the 57 cases found, 38 (67%) of the cases involved females and 19 (33%) involved males. The ages of the affected ranged from 7 years to 59 years.
The Zika virus was detected in the following areas:
- National Capital Region – 20 cases (35%)
- CALABARZON – 18 cases (32%)
- Western Visayas – 15 cases (26%)
- Central Luzon – 2 cases (4%)
- Central Visayas – 2 cases (4%)
There were 52 cases reported in late December 2016. DOH officials reported the first confirmed local transmission of Zika in the country in September 2016.
7 confirmed Zika pregnant cases
The DOH said that of the 7 of the Zika cases are pregnant women, aged 16 to 32.
The DOH said a 16-year-old from Las Piñas gave birth at full term to a baby boy without microcephaly. The disease is suspected of causing birth defects, such as microcephaly or other brain deformities in newborn children.
It is also verifyng a report that a mother and her new-born baby in Western Visayas “were screened positive for Zika virus antibodies using a rapid diagnostic test, which is not confirmatory.”
“Samples from mother and the baby were sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) and will be subjected to a confirmatory test on Zika virus using Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT PCR),” Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial said.
The virus, which resembles a light case of the flu, is transmitted by mosquito species found in tropical and sub-tropical regions: Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, or tiger mosquitoes. ## – Rappler.com
