As two new Zika virus infections have been reported in the cities of Makati and Mandaluyong, the city health officer of Manila has warned that it is only a matter of time before the virus hits the country’s capital.
This prompted Mayor Joseph Estrada to alert the city hospitals and health emergency units to brace for possible Zika cases as well as other mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue and chikungunya.
Estrada on Sunday also called on the 1.7-million Manileños to equip themselves with the proper knowledge about Zika even as he assured that the six public hospitals and 59 community health centers of the city are capable to handle the cases.
“We need to be ready. Everybody should be ready,” he said.
“The Zika virus has been suddenly prevalent in our country, where before this was only in Iloilo and Cebu only, now it is within NCR [National Capital Region] already. It is getting nearer. So I am ordering Manila hospitals to be ready because we can’t say when this will hit us,” Estrada added.
Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial said a 27-year-old female in Mandaluyong and a 42-year-old male in Makati have been infected with Zika virus.
“Zika will come. It will hit us,” warned Benjamin Yson, officer-in-charge of the Manila Health Department.
“We have to look for breeding grounds of these mosquitoes and eliminate them. In Metro Manila, especially in the high-crowding index, it is easier (to spread),” he added.
