DOH Expects WHO To Declare Zika Virus As An International Health Concern

The Department of Health (DOH) said on Monday it is looking forward that the World Health Organization (WHO) emergency meeting in Geneva will be resulting to the declaration of Zika virus as an international health concern.

“We’re expecting that they will declare it as an international priority because of the number of countries affected already by Zika virus infection, specifically in the Latin Americas,” DOH spokesperson Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy said in an interview with the media.

Earlier reports said the WHO has convened its International Health Regulations Emergency Committee to a Feb. 1 meeting in Geneva to discuss the prevalence of the Zika virus.

“The Committee will meet on Monday in Geneva to ascertain whether the outbreak constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern,” the WHO regional office in Manila said in a statement.

According to Dr. Lee Suy, the concern on Zika virus infection is something that deserves worldwide attention and it will help a lot if there are recommended measures in place in order to protect every country like the Philippines where it can potentially make an entry despite precautionary measures.

“We all know that it will not be limited among the countries in Latin America because of the movement of an infected person who might be traveling from one country to another…,” he said.

He said that the Philippines will be ready to abide by any recommendations that will be made by the WHO, adding that the country has been in fact doing already some basic steps to make sure that the country will remain Zika virus- free.

He clarified that the basic steps like monitoring of arriving passengers in the airports through thermal scanners are still in place and can help in monitoring the condition of arriving passengers and in guarding against Zika.

He said that those with fever and displaying symptoms of Zika are being asked for further examinations and record- keeping for easier evaluation and monitoring.

He assured that the DOH Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) has the capacity to do testing on passengers needing check-up or those suspected to be carriers of Zika virus.

He further said that the DOH has been repeatedly emphasizing the importance of cleanliness in the environment among the public as a major step in reducing the risk of possible spread in case the zika virus is able to make an entry into the country.

In comparison to dengue virus, Zika virus infection is very much milder, according to the DOH spokesperson.

He said that symptoms are influenza-like such as fever, rashes, joint pains and conjunctivitis (redness of eyes) that may last two to seven days.

He said that in terms of mortality rate, dengue is more severe.

He added that it is seldom that people with Zika virus infection will die, and if ever, that is due to other factors like presence of other co-morbidities or other conditions on the part of the patients.

While there is no 100 percent assurance that a pregnant mother who might be infected by Zika could have a baby with microcephaly, the DOH official said the best thing to do is to be sure that one is protected against the Aedes aegypti mosquito (infected with Zika virus) bite.

According to Dr. Lee Suy, they keep on advising pregnant mothers to think twice if they will take the risk of travelling to countries where cases of Zika virus infection have been reported.

Meanwhile, Dr. Lee Suy said that the DOH is currently checking with its counterpart in Honduras to validate the report that a Filipino in that country has been infected by the Zika virus. (PNA) SCS/LSJ