The Palace made an assurance on Saturday that it is strictly monitoring Zika virus in the country following reports of recent infections.

In a radio interview Saturday, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr said the Department of Health is on top of the situation.

“Nakikita naman natin Lany na masigasig ang ating Department of Health sa pangunguna ni Secretary Janette Garin sa pagsubaybay at pagtutok sa lahat ng kaso. Kaya’t agad na na-detect at nai-report, na-quarantine, nagamot, na-identify kahit na nangibang-bansa na sila,” he told dzRB Radyo ng Bayan.

The DOH is also coordinating with other centers for disease prevention in other countries to fight the virus, he said.

There is also a need to understand the nature of Zika virus. Like dengue fever, Zika virus is transmitted through mosquito bite. If the public observe cleanliness, there will be no transmission of Zika virus or other diseases.

“Kaya lahat ng ‘yan dapat ay pagtuunan natin ng pansin at handang-handa naman ang ating pamahalaan, maagap at masipag ang ating Department of Health at ang mga ahensya nito sa pagharap sa mga virus at sa iba pang mga banta sa ating kalusugan,” he said.

Coloma also said the public must also support DOH especially after the launched of AIDS hour aimed at raising awareness about the disease.

Part of the government initiative is disseminating information about HIV and AIDS to warn the public about the virus.

“Pagtulungan po natin ‘yan, nag-uumpisa po sa awareness, nag-uumpisa sa kamalayan na kung ano ang dapat gawin, kung isasapuso natin ito ay mas madali nating mapagtutulungan ang pagtugon sa banta ng HIV virus at ng AIDS,” Coloma said. PND (as)