Bacolod Health issues Zika advisory

CEBU, Philippines - The Bacolod City Health Office had issued an advisory on the Zika virus to inform the public about the dreaded disease.

CHO oficer-in-charge Maria Carmela Gensoli said that, although the virus has not entered the country, her office is now disseminating information about it so people can prepare and know what to do in case the disease hit the country.

Gensoli said the dissemination of information on Zika virus was part of CHO’s dengue awareness campaign, because Zika has similar symptoms with dengue fever and that mosquitos are the carrier of these two viruses.

Gensoli said the advisory was not intended to cause panic, and Bacolodnons have nothing to worry about because Zika has not affected the city.

This was part of CHO’s advocacy to make people aware of the deadly disease, she said, adding that proper hygiene and sanitation is still an effective remedy for now, to counter it.

Zika is a disease caused by a virus transmitted by the Aedes mosquitoes, which is the same vector carrying dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever. Its symptoms are mild fever, loss of appetite, headache and skin rashes, similar to dengue. It is now spreading in the US and Brazil, she said.  (FREEMAN)