CHO: There must be no let up in anti-Dengue drive
The City Health Office (CHO) encouraged the people to exercise preventive measures and seek immediate intervention as cases of dengue fever continue to increase.
In the CHO record, dengue cases from January to July reached to 210 with 16 deaths. It is much higher compared to last year’s record of the same period which only posted 69 cases with one death.
Dengue afflicts mostly children aged 5 to 14 years old. Of the total cases, 115 patients are males and 95 are females.
The highest dengue cases came from City Proper – 79, followed by Arevalo – 30, Molo – 28, La Paz – 22, Jaro II – 21, Jaro I and Mandurriao – 15 each
Dr. May Delmo, CHO dengue coordinator, attributed the increase in dengue incidence to the early onset of rain followed by days of high environmental temperature which is conducive to the reproduction of mosquitoes carrying the dengue virus.
In a material provided by Novartis to The News Today, dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever are caused by four closely related viral strains. The virus is transmitted to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes Stegomyia aegypti and Stegomyia albopticus, previously known as Aedes aegypti. Dengue is the second deadliest mosquito-borne illness after malaria.
There are no specific treatments for dengue fever available yet, supportive treatments include bed rest, fluid administration and analgesia. There is no available vaccine to prevent dengue fever, although several vaccines are currently in development.
In her report to Mayor Jerry Treñas, Delmo identified several common breeding sites in the different barangays which are conducive to the procreation of the mosquito-carrying virus.
The small canals s alongside footwalks in almost all barangays; presence of bamboo posts in fences which accumulate water and those with ornamental plants and old tires on the rooftop; uncovered deep wells became preferred habitat of the mosquitoes.
Ornamental plants in flower pots in schools; drainage system with stagnant water; uncollected garbage like bottles and plastic containers; moist clothing or unlaundered clothes in stockpile; and dark and crowded rooms became the favorable breeding ground of mosquitoes.