Dengue cases this year could be worse — DOH exec

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — One of the country’s top epidemiologists warned yesterday that 2004 could be a "bad year" in terms of dengue fever cases.

But Dr. Eric Tayag, Central Luzon assistant director of the Department of Health, said 90 percent of dengue-related deaths can be prevented if communities get rid of possible mosquito-breeding places.

Tayag told The STAR that dengue cases this year could be worse than last year’s in a cycle that peaks every three to four years.

"Unless we watch out and make the necessary preventive measures, we expect dengue cases to sprout this July, or two months after the onset of the rainy season," he said.

Tayag said dengue cases, particularly in Central Luzon and the National Capital Region, were noted to be higher last year, three years after a peak in the number of cases.

"But the pattern this time could be every four years, so this year (we) could yet experience the real peak in dengue cases with last year being a mere prelude," he added.

Tayag expressed fear that the fourth strain of dengue virus might show up this year; last year, strains 1, 2 and 3 surfaced.

"If strain 4 occurs this year, more people, including those who had survived strains 1, 2, or 3, would again be very vulnerable. This means that more people could be victimized by dengue fever," he said.

Strains 1 and 2 of the dengue virus are the most virulent of the four strains, Tayag said.

But those who had been infected by any of the first three strains and fall victim to strain 4 could suffer a worse condition.

Tayag urged local governments to launch a massive information campaign this early and destroy breeding grounds of the Aedis Egypti mosquitoes, the virus carriers which thrive in clear, stagnant waters.

"Studies show deaths arising from dengue are reduced by 90 percent if such preventive measures are adopted. If not, people should at least use anti-mosquito lotions, wear clothes that cover most parts of their body or use mosquito nets to reduce dengue deaths by five percent," he said.

Dengue-carrying mosquitoes normally bite early in the morning or before sunset, and not during nighttime when other types of mosquitoes do.

Seeking medical help immediately after dengue symptoms show up also reduces dengue deaths by another five percent, he added.

Tayag advised doctors not to immediately resort to blood transfusion, stressing that such a measure is not necessarily the remedy in dengue cases which, he explained, triggers "fluid escape from capillaries."

In mild cases, he said fluid replacement could be done through oral intake of a rehydration solution similar to those recommended for diarrhea.

"But close monitoring is needed for dengue victims since there is a danger of overloading the capillaries with fluid," he said.

Tayag warned local governments against using chemicals in fogging operations. "Some of these chemicals might not really be effective and could only adversely affect sensitive people and mess up the environment," he said.