DOH: Dengue cases in province on the rise

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Health-Region VII reported that there is an increase in the number of dengue cases in Cebu.

In a press conference at the DOH-Compound, DOH Regional Director Asuncion Anden yesterday said the dengue cases reported a total of 2,049 with 19 deaths for the period of January 1 to May 5.

Based on the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit report, the cases is 6.1 percent higher compared to the same period of last year with 1,931 cases and 14 deaths.

“These cases are increasing,” Anden said, emphasizing that dengue is not seasonal but can be present throughout the year.

Cebu City has the most number of dengue cases with 1,053 and nine deaths. It was followed by Lapu-Lapu City with 115 cases and two deaths.

The Municipality of Minglanilla ranked third with reported 110 cases, the City of Talisay ranked 4th with 93 cases and followed by Liloan with 78 cases.

Anden advised everyone to always clean their surroundings, citing that dengue-carrying mosquitoes have somehow evolved and are able to adopt to the environment.

The dengue-carrying mosquitoes called Aegis egypti are now capable of hatching their larvae even in dirty water such as canals and even in wet leaves.

“That is why the DOH will not stop its campaign against dengue by encouraging everyone to put into habit the cleaning of the environment,” Anden said.

Symptoms of dengue include headache, fever, muscle and joint pains and skin rashes. In extreme cases, bleeding of the gums and nose may occur.

Meanwhile, the health department also warned the public against diarrhea and food poisoning this summer.

Anden said that diarrhea tend to go up during the period, making it as a 'common summer disease’ because people associated with hot weather conditions such as festivities, regular buying of street refreshments, picnics and swimming.

To prevent this, she said parents should ensure that their children should always have clean bottled water and clean packed food with them to avoid buying from vendors and to watch out for swimming pools packed with people, unclean pool waters, or not chlorinated pools.

Aside from diarrhea, parents should also watch out for other diseases like skin rashes or prickly heat, sore eyes, and other emerging and reemerging infectious diseases associated with the summer season, which may be a time for fun but could also cause many health problems if not prevented. – (FREEMAN)