Tests on teener suspected of having filariasis yield negative results
Filariasis has not yet reached Iloilo City.
This was confirmed by Mayor Jerry Treñas yesterday after series of tests on an 18-year old lass from Barangay San Juan, Molo district believed to be suffering from lymphatic filariasis turned out negative.
Treñas said the report was based on his discussions with City Health Office (CHO) head Dr. Urminico Baronda and Dr. Mae Delmo.
Treñas said he was informed that the virus in said person went inactive. The case in Brgy. San Juan is the first to be recorded in the city since the provincial government went on a mass drug administration for filariasis.
Persons afflicted with lymphatic filariasis have swelling legs, arms, breasts and genitalia while men can develop hydrocele or swelling of scrotum. The 18-year old from San Juan has swelling foot.
The city did not initiate any action on the fight against filariasis since there was no case recorded at the time when the Iloilo provincial government went full-blast in the campaign against said disease.
Dr. Baronda recommended to the mayor to check first if there are cases in the city before they will initiate a mass drug administration to fight the disease.
With one suspected case of filariasis, the city government was forced to make representations with the Department of Health regarding the campaign.
Treñas said he has ordered intensified monitoring in the barangays.
According to the US Center for Disease website, lymphatic filariasis is a parasitic disease caused by microscopic, thread-like worms. The adult worms only live in the human lymph system. The lymph system maintains the body's fluid balance and fights infections.
The disease spreads from person to person by mosquito bites. When a mosquito bites a person who has lymphatic filariasis, microscopic worms circulating in the person's blood enter and infect the mosquito. People get lymphatic filariasis from the bite of an infected mosquito.
The microscopic worms pass from the mosquito through the skin, and travel to the lymph vessels. In the lymph vessels they grow into adults. An adult worm lives for about 5-7 years. The adult worms mate and release millions of microscopic worms, called microfilariae, into the blood. People with the worms in their blood can give the infection to others through mosquitoes.
"The chief executive also urged the people who suspect they have lymphatic filariasis to seek medical assistance from the different health centers. It is best if the disease is treated immediately," said Treñas.