DOH warns public of dengue, other ailments during summer

With the onset of the summer season, the public should take the necessary precautions against dengue and other water-borne diseases that are prevalent at these times, the Department of Health has advised recently.

DOH regional director Susana Madarieta said the prevalent diseases are dengue, gastroenteritis, diarrhea, chicken pox, measles and mumps, among others.

"Dengue cases are usually present and everybody should take all precautionary measures such as the proper storage of water and environmental sanitation," Madarieta said.

The health official said everyone should properly cover the containers of stored water, and clean their surroundings of empty cans, rubber tires, and places of stagnant water that are breeding grounds of dengue-carrier mosquitoes.

"People should practice proper washing of hands, must be careful with the preparation of food and must ensure the cleanliness of surroundings including the water they drink," she said.

Dengue is a flu-like viral disease spread by the bite of infected mosquitoes often with fatal complications common in most tropical areas of the world.

Chicken pox is an acute contagious disease, primarily of children, caused by the varicella-zoster virus and characterized by skin eruptions, slight fever, and malaise.

Mumps is an acute, inflammatory, contagious disease characterized by swelling of the salivary glands, especially the parotids, and sometimes of the pancreas, ovaries, or testes.

Measles is an acute, contagious viral disease, usually occurring in childhood and characterized by fever and eruption of red spots on the skin. - Jasmin R. Uy