Very high dengue alert level declared
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21 July 2010
Citing statistics, City Health Officer Rodel Agbulos said the number of dengue fever cases has doubled the last 2 months and that fatalities for the first six months of the year reached 9. In 2009, 8 fatalities were reported the whole year.
As this developed, Mayor Celso Lobregat, has directed Dr. Agbulos to intensify anew the information drive on the prevention of dengue cases as well as mobilize all resources to help ensure that the disease will not reach its outbreak level.
“For the month of July, for the first week alone we have registered 71 cases and when we talk about deaths, a total of 9 cases were fatal from January to the first week of this month”, Dr. Agbulos lamented.
“We are declaring a very high alert level”, he said, stressing that the number of registered cases has not reached the outbreak level as of yet. “That is why we are calling on every resident of the city to please do your share of helping prevent the spread of the mosquito-borne disease”.
Cleanliness in the surroundings and sanitation is the most effective and no-cost prescription to dengue fever, according to Dr. Agbulos.
Based on record, the month of May registered a total of 150 cases while over 300 cases were recorded in June. Barangay Campo Islam registered the most number of dengue fever cases since the first month of the year.
Dengue fever is a disease caused by a family of viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes. It is an acute illness of sudden onset that usually follows a benign course with, headache, fever, exhaustion, severe joint and muscle pain, swollen glands and rash. The presence (the "dengue triad") of fever, rash, and headache (and other pains) is particularly characteristic of dengue (pronounced as deng-gay).
The city experienced an outbreak of dengue fever in 2007 and Dr. Agbulos warned that if nothing will be done, the present situation might reach the same level as 3 years ago.
“We don’t want this thing to happen that is why we are appealing to barangay officials and all residents to please do everything possible to help eliminate the dengue-carrier mosquitoes.
Medical records say that the prevention of dengue requires control or eradication of the mosquitoes carrying the virus that causes dengue. In nations plagued by dengue fever, people are urged to empty stagnant water from old tires, trash cans, and flower pots. Governmental initiatives to decrease mosquitoes also help to keep the disease in check but have been poorly effective.
Wear long pants and long sleeves. For personal protection, use mosquito repellant sprays that contain DEET when visiting places where dengue is endemic. Limiting exposure to mosquitoes by avoiding standing water and staying indoors two hours after sunrise and before sunset will help. The Aedes aegypti mosquito is a daytime biter with peak periods of biting around sunrise and sunset. It may bite at any time of the day and is often hidden inside homes or other dwellings, especially in urban areas. (Sheila Covarrubias)