With six reported cases of the mosquito-born Zika virus in the Philippines, senator Risa Hontiveros has urged the Department of Health to distribute anti-Zika packets to barangay (village) health units to help protect their constituencies, especially pregnant women, from the virus that’s been linked to birth defects like microcephaly.
The proposed anti-Zika virus kit will contain mosquito nets, mosquito repellents, reading materials about Zika, and condoms — because the virus may also be acquired through unprotected sex with a person who is a carrier.
“In countries affected by the Zika virus, that’s the common advice of health authorities because the Zika virus is also sexually transmitted,” Hontiveros said in Filipino.
However, Caritas Manila the official social welfare arm of the Catholic Church in the Philippines, which is known to oppose the use of artificial birth control, said condoms shouldn’t be part of the safety pack.
“Why would we stop two people from loving each other just because of mosquitoes?” asked Fr. Anton Pascual, executive director of Caritas Manila. “Let’s use mosquito nets, insect repellents and pray instead,” he added.
Zika virus infection is commonly transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito Aedes aegypti, the same mosquito that carries dengue. It continues to spread across Central and South America, Mexico, and even parts of Asia.
