DOH-Mimaropa heightens alert against Zika and Mers Cov

• Source:http://palawan-news.com/doh-mimaropa-heightens-alert-against-zika-and-mers-cov/
• Monday, February 15, 2016

By Archie Barone

The Department of Health- Mimaropa Region intensifies alert in Palawan against emerging diseases like Zika Virus and Mers Cov.

Monitoring is being strengthened to ensure that there will be a zero-case in Puerto Princesa and Palawan.

According to Regional Director Eduardo Janairo, because Palawan is indeed one of the best tourist destinations all over the globe, the tourist arrival is consistently increasing, the threat that there may be a “tourist” that could be a carrier of Zika or Mers Cov, will always be there.

In relation to that, precautionary measures are being implemented at the airport to ensure that there will be no entry of possible carrier of emerging diseases.

The Zika virus is a mosquito-transmitted infection related to dengue, yellow fever and West Nile virus. Although it was discovered in the Zika forest in Uganda in 1947 and is common in Africa, Asia and the Western Hemisphere. Scientific concern is focused on women who become infected while pregnant and those who develop a temporary form of paralysis after exposure to the Zika virus.

Janairo added that they already advised tourism establishments on what to-do should there be any symptoms of Zika or Mers Cov on their guests.