DOH reminds public on drive vs. dengue

The Department of Health has recently issued public reminders for the prevention of the spread of dengue, which remains a prevalent threat to public health during summer.

Considering the shortage of water this season, people tend to store water in containers, prompting the DOH to call on the public to cover the containers of water.

These containers "become potential spots for breeding grounds of these (dengue-causing) mosquitoes," Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit nurse Reynan Cimfranca said.

Cimafranca also said the DOH urged the public to keep on cleaning their surroundings, swamps, and used tires that are also potential breeding sites of dengue-carrying mosquitoes.

The dengue cases in Cebu City, for the first quarter of this year, rose by more than 11 percent compared to last year, affecting more than half of the 80 villages of this city, according to the city health department.

Dengue program coordinator Dr. Raymond Ogan, of the Cebu City Health Department, said his office had recorded 171 dengue cases from January 1 to March 6 this year.

In the same period last year, there were 154 cases with three deaths. Of this year''s cases, two of the victims from barangays Tejero and Carreta died.

Ogan said dengue cases were reported in 45 of the city''s 80 barangays, and nine of these have been declared dengue hotspots for having more than three cases each.

These dengue hotspots are barangays Mambaling, Carreta, Mabolo, Tejero, Apas, Duljo, Labangon, Guadalupe and Bacayan. "We constantly monitor these places to contain the dengue cases," Ogan said.

The city government, through the city health department, also called on the public to give priority to environmental cleanliness and sanitation.

"(Dengue) is not alarming yet but is a cause for concern. We''ve been doing this awareness program all year round, knowing that dengue strikes at any time. We just hope the public would really heed our advice," said Ogan. - Jasmin R. Uy/RAE