EDITORIAL - That other viral disease

Hundreds of thousands of teachers will start classes today with a unique task: to inform their students about Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome and ways to avoid the SARS virus. Students, however, will also have to be reminded about another viral disease that has been around for some time: dengue, the mosquito-borne "breakbone fever" that periodically hits Southeast Asia, with cases rising particularly during the rainy season. Among the most vulnerable are children, which is why they should be informed about ways to avoid dengue.

Last week, Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit warned that the cases of dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever were again on the rise in the country, with the biggest number reported in Metro Manila. So far, 875 dengue cases have been reported this year in the National Capital Region. Another 752 cases have been recorded in Central Visayas and 634 in Northern Mindanao. Nationwide, 4,026 have been reported since January — 61 percent higher compared to the same period last year — with 48 percent of the cases children aged 1 to 9.

Worldwide the fatality rate from dengue hemorrhagic fever is about five percent. Like SARS, there is no vaccine for dengue, but the disease can be placed under control if treated in its early stage.

The first dengue epidemic was reported from 1779 to 1780 in Asia, Africa and North America. Since then the disease has been popping up around the world, with the first pandemic originating in Southeast Asia after World War II. Disease experts liken the current global distribution of dengue to malaria, with about 2.5 billion people at risk. Booming populations, urban blight and the ease of global travel have helped spread the disease, with new strains cropping up.

There are no sure-fire measures against dengue. The best preventive measure is to deprive the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which carries the dengue virus, of breeding grounds. The mosquito, which bites during daytime, needs about a week for its larvae to mature in stagnant water. Communities must dispose of garbage properly, unclog drainage systems and avoid letting water accumulate in stagnant pools. These are not impossible tasks, and communities must be apprised of what to do. The preventive measures must also be included in the first order of business as classes start today.