MANILA, Philippines – The Las Piñas City government has launched a cleanup campaign to eliminate possible mosquito-breeding sites to prevent the spread of Zika virus and dengue.
Mayor Imelda Aguilar urged barangay officials, personnel of the city health department and volunteers to participate in the cleanup operations.
Aguilar created the Barangay Zika-Dengue Brigade to intensify the information campaign against the mosquito-borne diseases.
The Department of Health (DOH) earlier reported that a pregnant woman from Las Piñas had tested positive for Zika virus.
DOH spokesman Eric Tayag said the 16-year-old patient, who is eight months pregnant, has had skin rashes and fever.
Tayag said this is the second Zika case involving a pregnant woman. The first case was recorded in Cebu.
“We now have a total of 33 Zika cases this year,” he said.
Tayag said Zika infections may have milder symptoms than dengue fever, but Zika is known to cause microcephaly in babies.