Philippines-AFRIMS Virology Research Unit (PAVRU)

located in Cebu City was established in late 2006 and is headed by the Country Team Leader, Dr. Charity Ann Ypil Butac. The Departments of Virology and Entomology launched the first AFRIMS initiative in the Philippines to survey and characterize, in collaboration with the Philippine Department of Health (DOH), San Lazaro Hospital, and the World Health Organization (WHO), the causes of dengue-like and acute encephalitis syndrome in late 2005. In addition, the Department began surveillance for influenza-like illness in collaboration with the DOH and Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) in Cebu in 2007. Further work in Cebu on dengue and dengue vaccine trials are in the planning stages.