THE Department of Health (DOH) heightened its alert to prevent the possible entry of Zika virus in Zamboanga Peninsula (Western Mindanao).
Dr. Sitti Nurussamsi Amilassan, DOH regional coordinator for mosquito borne diseases, said the agency conducted information campaign in the barangays on the 4S strategy as preventive measures against Zika.
The 4s strategy included the following: search and destroy, self protection measures, seek early consultation, and, say yes to fogging only during outbreak.
Search and destroy included: covering drums, pails, and other waste containers at all times, clean and replace the water in flower vases once a week, cover the holes around the house with soil or sand, remove or pierce old tires that are being used as roof supports, also those tires placed around the house that might hold water, flip-over empty bottles, jars, tin cans and other items that can collect and hold water, and clean and remove water on dish racks and other household items that can hold water.
For the self-protection measures, it included: Using of mosquito repellants to avoid mosquito bites, use mosquito nets when sleeping at daytime, and wearing of long sleeves or clothes that will protect your skin from mosquito bites.
Amilassan urged the public to seek and consult with the nearest health facility if you already have fever for two days and fogging should be done when there is an impending and during outbreaks.
Amilassan said the agency distributed free larvicide to kill the larva of mosquitoes, which could be carriers of Zika virus.
Zamboanga City is vulnerable to Zika since it is the entry port for people travelling by boat from Malaysia, one of the countries with positive cases of Zika virus.
Health officials have so far recorded six cases of Zika in the country.
The latest case was discovered last week wherein a woman from Iloilo was infected with the virus.
Zika virus is transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito from the Aedes genus, mainly Aedes aegypti in urban areas and Aedes albopictus in rural areas.
This occurs in tropical countries with large mosquito population. (Bong Garcia/Sunnex)