DOH Clarifies: Advice on Postponement of Pregnancy Applies Only to Women Planning to go to Zika-affected Countries

The Department of Health (DOH) clarified on Tuesday that its advice to women to postpone pregnancy is only for Filipino women who are planning to go to Zika virus-affected countries and is not mandatory because the decision to get pregnant is still in the hands of the women.

DOH Secretary Janette L. Garin said that for those women who really want to get pregnant or plan to be pregnant, there is no need for such advice unless they intend to go to some Latin American countries where Zika infections have been reported.

The Health chief was earlier reported as advising women not to get pregnant this year amid fears for the scenario of having babies with microcephaly, a congenital condition associated with incomplete brain development.

The Zika virus-linked condition is something that any mother or parent will never want for their newborn babies.

Secretary Garin assured that the DOH continues to study the virus and find ways to prevent its entry into the country.

She said they have started training health workers in several hospitals on how to detect possible Zika cases using new machine testing kits.

These hospitals include the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Muntinlupa City, San Lazaro Hospital in Manila, Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City, Baguio General Hospital in Baguio City, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City, and Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City.

As of this time, there have been some studies correlating that some mothers in countries infected with Zika during their pregnancy (e.g. Brazil) are having babies with microcephaly.

For the said reason, having Zika virus has become a sort of concern and therefore, even if the said virus is not yet in the country as of this date, it is causing some sort of fears and with that, others are also seeking advice because definitely no one will ever dream to have a baby with microcephaly.

Secretary Garin said that as an advice for those women who are anxious to postpone their pregnancy, or in case they are not hurrying up to have a baby, they can engage in family planning method.

She added that the DOH made that safe advice because at this point in time, they are not sure of what should exactly be done in case a Filipino mother gets infected with Zika virus during pregnancy.

“Kasi pag buntis ka at na-infect ng Zika virus at this point in time, we don’t know what to do… These are still questions that science cannot answer at the moment,” she explained in a media briefing held at Century Park Hotel in Manila

She said that what they can guarantee for now as a form of management is to give a possible patient (for pregnant mother who will be infected with Zika) is monitoring and full emotional and psychological support.

She also said that at present, there is no available cure for the micrcocephaly condition.

“So talagang support, counseling, and then we have to observe what happens and possibly let the patient together with the government prepare for the economic burden…Kasi siyempre minsan ang tanong eh, kaya bang gamutin pag microcephalic ang baby? Hindi, kasi ganyan na talaga yun and it is something that at the moment science cannot cure,” she further said.

She added that since abortion is illegal and not allowed in the country, they are not giving that as an advice either.

“Hindi pwede ang abortion,” the Health chief stressed.”What we advise (for those who are pregnant or those who plan to get pregnant) –- buntis o kasalakuyang nagbubuntis — ay ‘wag munang bumiyahe sa 29 countries where there is local active Zika virus transmission.”

She also said that related studies on Zika are being done as of now and expected to have positive outcomes or further development by the end of 2016, wherein the DOH might be getting answers to the questions that need to be answered.

She added that they are looking forward that questions such as how the baby is infected with Zika, the specific period — before conception or during what month/s of pregnancy — can also be answered by that time.

In terms of symptoms that can be experienced in comparison to dengue, Zika is milder. Some of its symptoms are influenza-like fever, joints pains, rashes and conjunctivitis.

Very rare that it can cause death, except for those with co-morbidities or pre-existing conditions.

However, some patients with Zika does not display symptoms because 75 percent of those who have the infection are not even aware that they have the virus with them. (PNA) SCS/LSJ