DOH: Temperature change can help predict outbreak of diseases

Sudden changes in temperature can help Filipino doctors predict the outbreak of some deadly diseases in the country, a senior weather specialist said yesterday.

Nino Relox, of the Natural Disaster Reduction Branch of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), identified cholera, dengue and malaria as diseases which are related to temperature.

In his study entitled, “Epidemiological Study for Metro Manila Using Climatic Variability,” Relox said that temperature can serve as early warning indicator of cholera, dengue and malaria epidemics.

Relox said that a cholera outbreak can be predicted after at least three months of increasing temperatures, while dengue and malaria occurrence can be calculated after five months of monitoring rising temperatures.

Relox added that the study is an important measure which can be used to prevent the occurrence of such diseases, as the public may be advised of the possible effects of increasing temperatures.

Cholera, dengue and malaria were three of the leading diseases and causes of deaths in the country, according to the National Statistics Coordination Board (NSCB).

In 2004, there were 351 recorded cases of cholera nationwide, 19,894 cases of malaria, and 15,838 cases of dengue, the NSCB said.

Cholera is an infectious gastroenteritis caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae while dengue is a viral disease common in warm and wet areas.

Malaria, meanwhile, is one of the world’s most common diseases caused by a parasite that is transmitted to humans by a female mosquito’s bite.