DOH warns public again on prevalence of dengue

The Department of Health has advised the public to store water in covered containers and replace them regularly to prevent the breeding sites of dengue-causing mosquitoes with the onset of the rainy season.

Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit nurse Reynan Cimafranca said that the public has to be vigilant with dengue, saying that the ailment will possibly prevail these rainy months.

"Used tires, bottles, tin cans and all sorts of containers become filled with rainwater and breed dengue-carrying mosquitoes. These allow for an increased availability of stagnant water suitable for these mosquitoes to breed," Cimafranca warned.

Records from the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit showed that there are a total of 648 dengue patients admitted at different hospitals from January 1 to June 17. The good news is that this figure is 32 percent lower compared to the same period last year.

Ages of cases ranged from four months old to 68 years old wherein 53 percent of these cases involved males. Sad to note though that there were 16 deaths and most of the cases belonged to the 6-10 years age group.

The RESU data identified Cebu City as having the most number of dengue cases in Central Visayas with 117 cases, followed by Talisay City, which reported a total of 67 cases. Lapu-Lapu City ranked third with 59 cases. Minglanilla has 47 cases while Mandaue has 45. Naga, on the other hand, has at least 33 cases while Carcar has 30 cases. Consolacion followed with 18 cases, San Fernando with 18 also and Toledo with 17.

Dengue is an acute, infectious tropical disease caused by an arbovirus transmitted by mosquitoes, and characterized by high fever, rash, headache, and severe muscle and joint pain. It is also called breakbone fever or dandy fever. - Jasmin R. Uy