Dengue cases up
THE Philippines, where many people still die without seeing a doctor because of grinding poverty, registered a total of 64,797 dengue cases in the first six months of the year.
Records show that Central Luzon recorded the most number of dengue cases with 9,684; followed by Central Visayas, 7,741; and Zamboanga Peninsula, 5.684.
The figure was 90 percent higher compared to the 34,074 cases recorded during the same period last year.
And very quickly, government and health authorities, including infectious disease expert Dr. Rontgene Solante, called on the Filipino people to observe environmental hygiene.
Dr. Solante said environmental hygiene is the most important measure to be observed to keep the number of dengue cases low in this Asian nation of more than 110 million people.
Even Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire has expressed alarm over the sudden increase in the number of dengue patients being admitted by hospitals.
That’s why the Department of Health (DOH) reminded the public to practice the so-called “4-S” strategy in the fight against dengue.
The “4-S” stands for “Search and Destroy” mosquito breeding places, “Secure Self-Protection” from mosquito bite, “Seek Early Consultation” when signs of dengue occur, and “Say Yes to Fogging” when there’s an impending outbreak.
The Philippines is one of the Asian nations with a high number of dengue, which is transmitted to humans by the bite of a female Aedes aegypti mosquito infected with dengue virus.
Dengue should be suspected when a high fever is accompanied by two of the following symptoms: Severe headache; pain behind the eyes; muscle and joint pains; nausea; vomiting; rash; and swollen glands.
