GMA: Stop dengue

President Arroyo ordered authorities yesterday to step up their action against dengue outbreaks that hit several areas in the country.

"President Arroyo is concerned over the growing number of dengue cases and has already instructed the Department of Health (DOH) to make a thorough assessment of the situation and take action in affected and vulnerable areas - especially in containing outbreaks and intensifying cleanup operations using the safest means available," Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said.

The President’s order comes in the wake of reports of a dengue outbreak in a town in Morong, Rizal where three people have died.

Based on reports, the DOH also raised dengue alert level in Metro Manila and the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR), particularly in Baguio City, due to the high number of cases reported in these areas.

The DOH has asked all hospitals with high dengue admission to set up their respective "dengue express" programs to systematize the treatment and admission of dengue patients.

DOH chief epidemiologist Dr. Eric Tayag said the scheme would enable hospitals to prioritize the treatment of people with severe dengue and other grave illnesses.

"In some hospitals now, even those who are not really sick with dengue but are only manifesting symptoms like fever, are already being accepted for confinement, maybe to unclog the emergency rooms. So when the real dengue patients or those with other grave illnesses come, there’s already no room left for them," Tayag said in Filipino.

He said that, in dealing with suspected dengue cases, there are "danger signs" that must be observed: The sudden onset of fever, stomach pain, rapid breathing, rapid pulse and bleeding.

Tayag added that if such signs are not present in a patient, the patient may be sent home, provided that the patient "will be observed three to four times a day."

"There is a possibility that the patient’s condition (may) progress into dengue, so they have to watch out for the symptoms," he added.

At present, the DOH is closely monitoring Barangay Maybangkal in Morong, Rizal and Barangays Irisan in Loakan proper and Pacdal in Baguio City, where dengue outbreaks were declared.

From Jan. 1 to Aug. 29, a total of 13,467 dengue cases have been recorded by the DOH, with 167 deaths. This is 42 percent lower than the number of registered dengue cases during the same period last year.

The clustering of cases was observed in some parts of Caloocan City and Malabon City and in Manila, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasig, Taguig Valenzuela cities and Quezon City.

Clustering of dengue cases was also observed in Calasiao and Dagupan in Pangasinan; Baliwag, Marilao, Meycauayan, Sta. Maria and San Jose del Monte in Bulacan; Taytay, Rizal; Dumaguete City, Mabinay, Manjuyod, Tanjay and Bais in Negros Oriental and in Itogon, Benguet.

DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III said Metro Manila accounted for the majority of cases (4,222); followed by Central Luzon (1,898) and Central Visayas (1,752).

Duque said the best way to fight dengue is to "search (for) and destroy" the breeding sites of dengue-causing aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which thrive in clean but stagnant water.

"We have to be vigilant in our guard against dengue," Duque said. "We cannot afford to be complacent and just sit down, especially not with the fact that most lives it claims are the hope if our future — our children." — Aurea Calica, Sheila Crisostomo