Public told to focus more on dengue than A(H1N1)

CEBU, Philippines – Health officials reminded the public to focus more on the prevention of dengue hemorrhagic fever over the dreaded Influenza A(H1N1).

Dr. Raymond Ogan, city coordinator on dengue control, said that the public should focus more on dengue prevention as it is proven to be more fatal than H1N1. In fact, dengue is continuously claiming lives, mostly children, while there is no recorded H1N1 casualty in the country, he said.

Here in the city, reported dengue cases have already reached 310 with nine deaths as of the early half of this year. Ogan, however, said that the figure is 45 percent lower than last year’s reported number of cases and deaths. He also said that in the same period last year, there were about 584 cases with 25 deaths.

“But we are not letting our guards down because we are still in the early half of this year and the onset of rainy season is expected to bring about more cases if people will not heed the call to prevention,” Ogan said.

“We should continue searching and destroying breeding grounds of dengue carriers, most especially inside our houses where 70 percent of mosquito breeding sites can be found,” he added.

To protect schoolchildren who are the most vulnerable group against dengue, City Health conducts mist spraying in schools on weekends.

This year, Cebu City is under the state of dengue preparedness after it was placed under a state of calamity for the high rate of dengue infection last year.

The top 10 barangays with the most number of dengue cases in the city are Kamputhaw with 28 cases and one death; Labangon - 21 cases and two deaths; Lorega - 16 cases and two deaths; Guadalupe - 14 cases and one death; Tisa - 14 cases and Carreta with 13 cases; Talamban and Punta Princesa with 11 cases; Calamba - 10 cases, and Lahug with nine cases of dengue infection. – Jessica Ann R. Pareja/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)