PHO confirms 113 Dengue cases in Iloilo
The Iloilo Provincial Health Office (PHO) in a summary of Dengue cases in Iloilo confirmed a total of 113 cases including one fatality.
Covering the period of January to May 28, 2009, the PHO identified the most number of Dengue incidents in Southern Iloilo.
Said PHO report was submitted to provincial officials including members of the 9th Iloilo Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP).
As per PHO validation, the municipality of Oton recorded the highest thus far followed by the municipality of Tigbauan.
Concerns run high on the resurgence of Dengue here particularly with the opening of classes. Public schools stared ahead this week with the rest of the private institutions set to follow suit on Monday.
The Department of Health (DOH) in a Dengue advisory called on aggressive campaign addressed to school officials and local communities.
In fact, Health Secretary Francisco Duque led yesterday’s launching of the government’s nationwide anti-dengue campaign dubbed as, “Ako, Ikaw, Tayong Lahat Laban sa Dengue”.
Though cases in Iloilo remain a worry to health and school officials, over-all statistics proved to be on the upside.
“We are heartened by the heroic efforts of all those who worked hard so that there is a big 57.4% decrease in the number of dengue cases compared to the same period last year,” Duque in a DOH news released revealed, adding that even the case fatality rate has lowered to .9% compared to the 1% recorded in the same period.
“Duque disclosed that the first five months this year already showed a steady decrease in the number of cases. Data showed that from January to May 9, there were only 6,537 cases recorded with 62 deaths; the previous year’s (same period) figure was 15,334 cases with 163 deaths,” it continued. “Duque cited the role of the local chief executives in spearheading the campaign in their respective localities against the dreaded disease.
“With the 4S strategy that was widely disseminated in communities and schools last year, people became more aware how easy it was to prevent the spread of the dengue-carrying mosquitoes,” Duque said.”
DOH anti-Dengue campaign pushed for the “4S strategy” that involved Search and Destroy, Self-protection, Seek early treatment, and Say no to indiscriminate fogging.
“Our success last year, however, should not lull us into complacency this year,” Duque noted. He added that dengue is now an all-year round phenomenon in the country due to climate change.
Duque also underscored diseases common during rainy season called WILD diseases. These consist of waterborne infectious diseases, influenza, leptospirosis, and dengue. He added that these WILD diseases are easily preventable if only people will follow the advisories issued by the health department on television, radio, newspapers, and even on the internet via the DOH website.
According to Duque, it will only take about 30 seconds of handwashing with soap and water or the equivalent of singing the Happy Birthday song twice in order to remove most bacteria. Also, Duque reminded everyone to use handkerchief or tissue when coughing or sneezing to prevent transmission of disease through droplet infection.
“The most important key to prevent and control diseases is empowering our people with correct information so that they can take steps to stop their transmission and limit the harm that they bring through proper and timely health-seeking behavior,” Duque in the DOH news release concluded.