by Gail Momblan/PNA
ILOILO CITY — The Department of Health-Center for Health Development in Western Visayas (DOH-CHD 6) has called on the public not to be complacent due to possible emergence of dengue cases even during the dry season.
“During dry season, people tend to store water, which serves as breeding grounds of mosquitoes,” Dr. Jessie Glen Alonsabe, medical specialist III of DOH, said in an interview on Friday.
Water-filled artificial containers, closely associated with human dwellings and often indoors, are identified breeding grounds of mosquitoes carrying the dengue virus.
As of February 16, dengue cases in the region totaled to 2,762 with 13 deaths, based on the DOH data.
This is 118 percent higher compared to the 1, 269 cases recorded in the same period last year. Most dengue patients were children aged 1 to 10 years old.
A total of 121 barangays in the region had a clustering of cases.
The DOH said 2019 is the third year of the “three-year cycle”, which means the incidence of cases peaks according to this interval.
Despite this, Alonsabe is hopeful the department, with the help of the public, can reduce the number of cases this year.
He assured that activities for dengue will not be compromised with the intensified measles preventive measures and vaccination activities.
He encouraged the public to intensify the “4S Kontra Dengue,” which stands for search and destroy mosquito breeding places, secure self-protection, seek early consultation and support fogging only in hotspot areas.
“Most especially, we encourage the public to intensify the ‘search and destroy’ practice to lessen or eliminate the rise of dengue cases,” Alonsabe said.
