Philippine Department of Health spokesman Dr. Eric Tayag, right, answers questions from reporters beside Dr. Gundo Weiler, World Health Organization representative, during a press conference in Manila, Philippines on Monday, Sept. 5, 2016. Philippine health officials announced that a 45-year-old female from Iloilo City, central Philippines was the first confirmed case of Zika this year due to local transmission. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
FOLLOWING confirmation of the latest and sixth Zika virus infection in the country, the Department of Health expects more cases to turn up.
DOH spokesperson Dr. Eric Tayag said the department had sent a medical team to Iloilo City to test other individuals who may be showing symptoms of the virus, such as skin rash, red eyes, fever and joint pain.
“We expect additional cases of Zika as we intensify our surveillance efforts,” Tayag said.
On Monday, the DOH confirmed the first case of Zika infection in the country since an outbreak in Singapore last month, and the sixth case in the Philippines since 2012. The first five cases involved mostly foreigners who contracted the infection abroad before coming to the Philippines.
The latest case is a 45-year-old married Filipino woman from Iloilo City who tested positive for the virus despite not having recently traveled overseas.
Tayag said it was highly likely this was a local transmission of the virus, as opposed to the first cases.