Las Piñas launches massive clean-up drive vs Zika, dengue; This after Las Pinas and Muntinlupa patients test positive for Zika

From journal.com.ph:

Las Piñas City — Mayor Imelda “Mel” Aguilar has mobilized all barangay officials, the city health department staff and volunteers in the city for a continuing massive clean-up drive to eliminate possible mosquito-breeding areas to prevent the spread of Zika, dengue and Chikungunya virus.

The move came in the wake of the Department of Health’s call for united effort against the dreaded Aedes mosquitoes that carry the virus.

To strengthen the drive, Aguilar created the Barangay Zika-Dengue Brigade composed of barangay officials, health center staff and homeowners for the conduct of the massive cleanup in their respective barangays and disseminate information and awareness regarding Zika, dengue and Chikungunya prevention and control.

The mayor likewise appealed to the residents and homeowners and school authorities to strengthen and maintain regular clean up drive activities in their surroundings to arrest the spread of the disease.

At the same time, she instructed the city health office to continue its disease surveillance operations, introduction of Ovi-Larvi trap in schools and communities and immediate fogging operations and illness source reduction through active community participation.

“Prevention and control of these dreaded vector-borne disease is everybody’s concern and responsibility that we must do our share in ensuring a clean and mosquito-free surroundings,” Aguilar said.

The Zika virus is transmitted by the same type of mosquito that carries dengue fever and Chikungunya virus. The virus can be found in blood, semen, urine and saliva of an infected person, as well as in fluids in the eye. It can cause fever, rash, joint pain and redness in the eyes (conjunctivitis) but most patients won’t know they have it.

Meanwhile, the city has purchased additional nine mini-dump trucks to augment the existing 54 garbage compactor trucks used in collecting trash from all of the city’s 20 barangays with about 250 private villages and subdivisions.

Aguilar said the added garbage trucks were to complement the massive cleanliness and sanitation campaign not only to arrest possible spread of the dreaded vector virus but also to ensure an orderly and green environment.

The city employs 250 garbage collectors, aids and dump truck drivers aside from the Bantay Basura volunteers that regularly pick up garbage from private, public and commercial establishments.

16-year-old Las Pinas resident and 22-year-old Muntinlulpa resident test positive for Zika

From CNN Philippines:

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Health officials on Tuesday confirmed 10 new cases of the Zika virus, bringing the total number of cases nationwide to 33.

The patients include:

a 7-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy from Calamba, Laguna
a 26-year-old woman from Antipolo, Rizal
a 27-year-old woman from Makati City
a 22-year-old woman from Muntinlupa City
a 25-year-old man from Bacoor City, Cavite
a 25-year-old woman from Sta. Cruz, Manila
a 31-year-old man from Caloocan
a 16-year-old girl from Las Piñas City
a 38-year-old woman from Mandaluyong City

The DOH said it is still confirming if the female patients are pregnant. The Zika virus, primarily transmitted through a bite from dengue-carrying Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes, is linked to severe brain and other neurological defects among babies in the womb.

The virus was declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organization because of its links to microcephaly.

Microcephaly is a rare condition where a baby is born with a small head and an underdeveloped brain.

The virus can also be transmitted sexually, which is why the DOH also reminds pregnant women, their partners and others who plan for pregnancy to practice safe sex to avoid infection.

In an interview with CNN Philippines, DOH spokesman Dr. Eric Tayag said there could be more Zika cases until the rainy season ends next year, unless people listen to the agency’s advice of cleaning their surroundings and keeping containers of water covered to prevent mosquitoes from breeding and spreading the virus.

The DOH has also set up 24/7 Zika virus hotlines. These are (02) 711-1001 and (02) 711-1002.