BY Katrina Gracia Consebido
Infectious Disease Expert Dr. Edsel Salavana said Tuesday, July 5, dengue cases should be “closely monitored” as dengue cases in the country rose by 58%.
In the Laging Handa briefing, Salvana noted that dengue is “hyper endemic” in the Philippines.
“Ang dengue ay hyper endemic sa Pilipinas. Ibig sabihin meron tayong dengue throughout the year,” Salvaña said.
He added that the changing of the weather season in the country is also a big factor of dengue transmission.
“Meron tayong months, rainy season at other seasons na mas mataas ‘yung kaso, pero tuluy-tuloy po talaga ‘yung transmission ng dengue dito sa atin, kaya nananatiling malaki ang pinsala,” he added.
Salvana said there are a total of 39 death records from dengue in the month of May.
He also noted that children aged 10 years are “more at risk” of dengue infection.
“Alam natin yung peak ng death is usually dun sa mga 10 years old, sa mga bata natin, dahil yun yung nagkakataon na nagkaroon sila ng second case of dengue, which we know is the one that is more likely to cause severe disease,” he added.
Salvana reminded the public to take early “preventable actions” to prevent the possible dengue surge in the country.
“We should do the preventable actions para hindi po ganoon kataas ang kaso natin ng dengue.” – gb
