Total cases of Zika virus in the Philippines continue to rise, pushing the government to draft action plan.
There are already 19 cases of Zika virus recorded in the Philippines, with two new cases reported in Luzon.
On Friday, the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed two new cases of Zika virus in Cavite.
In a press conference on Zika virus in Pasay City, Health Undersecretary Gerardo Bayugo pronounced that a boy and an adult female contracted the disease.
But, DOH Assistant Secretary Dr. Eric Tayag said the agency will conduct further tests and investigation on the two new cases recorded.
As of now, the victims have not yet been brought to the hospital.
The new cases bring the total of 19 Zika virus cases in the country. To recall, there were 12 cases from Western Visayas, three from National Capital Region, three from Calabarzon, and one from Central Visayas.
In a summit Friday, October 28, health experts discussed the action plan of the government against the virus.
The National Summit on Zika Virus gathered international and local experts to discuss about the virus in the international and local context.
In the summit, health experts tackled issues on case detection and reporting, and challenges in laboratory testing and mosquito control.
Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial said, “the Philippines further strengthens its actions to prepare and respond to more Zika virus cases.”
She revealed that the DOH also provided insecticides and fogging machines in areas considered as Zika hot spots.
“A total of P16.5 million is provided by DOH for the procurement of Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test for [Research Institute for Tropical Medicines], PCR test for the sub national laboratories, and vector surveillance in selected ports and airports,” Ubial added.
Zika is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito and linked to a rise in birth defects in other countries, called microcephaly.