Baby of pregnant woman with Zika normal – DOH

MANILA, Philippines – The baby of a pregnant woman diagnosed with Zika virus shows no sign of microcephaly or a condition in which the head is abnormally small, the Department of Health (DOH) said yesterday.

Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial said they have been monitoring the 22-year-old pregnant woman from Iloilo. 

“She is OK. We are constantly monitoring her condition. She underwent two ultrasound procedures and the baby is normal,” Ubial said.

 The woman, who is expected to give birth in January, was among the 33 confirmed Zika cases in the country.  

Iloilo City has 12 cases; Bacoor, Cavite, four; Mandaluyong and Calamba cities, three each; Antipolo City, Las Piñas and Muntinlupa, two each,  and Cebu, Quezon City, Makati City, Caloocan City and Manila, one each. 

Ubial said Zika virus could be prevented using the 4S strategy: Search and destroy mosquito-breeding places, use self-protection measures, seek early consultation for fever lasting more than two days, and say no to indiscriminate fogging.

Ubial said the strategy also works against dengue, Chikungunya as well as other diseases caused by day-biting Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.