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The Philippines is one of four countries listed by the World Health Organization as having possible endemic transmission or evidence of local mosquito-borne Zika infections in 2016, but without reporting an outbreak in either 2015 or 2016.
The others are Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Over the past couple of weeks, however, we've seen Zika reports from Malaysia and Thailand, and yesterday Tokyo Reported An Imported Zika Case From Vietnam.
Last week, the Philippines DOH reported a suspected local case of Zika - the first case of 2016 - and today we learn that two others in that household have been infected, confirming local transmission.
DOH confirms 2 more Zika cases in Philippines
Updated September 13, 2016 2:03pm
By RIE TAKUMI, GMA News
The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday announced that two more persons in Iloilo City have tested positive for Zika, bringing to eight the number of recorded cases in the Philippines.
Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial said the two new Zika patients are living in the same house with the sixth patient found positive for the virus.
Ubial said that all two new patients showed minor symptoms of Zika such as fever and mild skin rash.
"Because they have mild infection, none if them required hospitalization," she said.
"As of this press conference, they have no more signs and symptoms... We're still monitoring their blood and urine to find out if they are still positive. In the meantime, they are home quarantined, so they stay at home," she added.
(Continue . . .)
While limited transmission within this Philippine household is a worry, the bigger concern will be if cases are detected outside of this family unit.
As with Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand - and now the Philippines - we'll be watching carefully for signs of greater transmission.
