Illustrative image (Source: AFP/VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – The Philippines’ Department of Health confirmed on September 5 that a woman from Iloilo city tested positive for the Zika virus, the sixth case recorded in the country.
Health Under-secretary Gerardo Bayugo stated that the 45-year-old victim might be infected with the virus locally as she has no record of travel to countries where the virus has been detected.
However, Bayugo clarified that there is still no confirmation of local transmission of the virus in the Philippines.
According to him, five other cases have been detected since 2012, but these did not create an outbreak.
Last week, the government urged its people to intensify preventive measures while in Zika-hit countries, and warned pregnant women to avoid visiting these countries.
Earlier on September 4, 27 more Zika cases were recorded in Singapore, bringing the total infections to 242 since the mosquito-borne virus was found a week ago.
The Zika virus is caused by a virus transmitted primarily by Aedes mosquitoes.
People with Zika virus often display symptoms such as mild fever, skin rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise or headache. These symptoms normally last from 2 to 7 days.
There is a scientific consensus that Zika virus is a cause of microcephaly in newborn babies and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Links to other neurological complications are also being investigated, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).-VNA
