Public warned vs dengue outbreaks

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Health (DOH) yesterday reminded the public that outbreaks of mosquito-borne diseases could still occur during summer.

Health Secretary Enrique Ona said the public should not slow down in the elimination of mosquito breeding sites.

Mosquito-borne diseases include dengue, malaria, chinkungunya and lymphatic filariasis.

Ona said mosquitoes usually breed in stagnant water in containers, flower pots and used tires.

To drum up awareness on the prevention of mosquito-borne diseases, the DOH launched the mosquito dance during yesterday’s celebration of World Health Day, with the theme “Small bite – big threat” that focused on vector control around the world.

Health Assistant Secretary Eric Tayag and World Health Organization Country Representative Julie Hall led DOH and WHO employees in dancing to the mash-up tune of “Mosquitoes,” “Timber” and “Alam Mo Ba?” sung by children of DOH personnel.

WHO director for Western Pacific Shin Young-soo said the celebration is a “timely reminder of the enormous harm caused by tiny creatures such as mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, mites, sandflies and freshwater snails.”

“These creatures are called vectors because they spread a range of parasitic, viral and bacterial diseases – diseases that affect people of all ages and all sectors of society,” he said.

WHO data showed that the Asia Pacific region accounts for more than 75 percent of the estimated global dengue burden of more than 100 million cases yearly in 100 countries.

Lymphatic filariasis, on the other hand, remains endemic in 22 countries in Western Pacific.

The DOH said chinkungunya is becoming endemic in the country.

According to Tayag, chikungunya has been in the Philippines for three years now, the longest since the disease was first reported in the country in 1960s.

“This is the longest because in the past, we would have chikungunya for one to two years only. Now, we are on the third year,” he said.