Talisay warns vs. spread of dengue

CEBU, Philippines - The Talisay City council committee on health has reminded the public anew of the threat of the spread of the dengue virus and warned the public to take the necessary precautions now that the rainy season has started.

City Councilor Richard Francis Aznar, committee chairperson, said a city-wide anti-dengue campaign has started. 

In a proposed resolution, Aznar is requesting all barangays, churches, private and public schools, and non-government organizations to participate on June 22 in a simultaneous clean-up drive. 

“Public awareness and community participation and utilization of effective control measures through the Committee on Health have been causing dengue cases in the city to drop off,” Aznar said.

Talisay City is ranked fourth with 26 cases of dengue based on the record from the Department of Health.

Barangays Lawaan, San Roque, Tanke, and San Isidro has been identified as having the most number of dengue cases.

Lawaan has 36, San Roque and Tanke 24, while San Isidro has 15, two of which were fatalities.

The third death was recorded in barangay Cansojong.

Aznar said the public should not let their guard down against the constant threat of dengue in the city.

“On June 22, at 4:00 p.m., massive participation is expected for the search and destroy activity through the simultaneous clean-up drive of the city,” Aznar said. 

The health officials recommended to local government officials to intensify the information campaign on dengue with emphasis on the importance of eliminating breeding sites of mosquitoes and to mobilize the community to participate in environmental sanitation activities such as clean-up drives.

Officials are also encouraged to organize dengue brigades in barangays, to continue disease surveillance and to notify Resu on dengue cases.

A patient who suffers from dengue has high fever, body weakness, abdominal pain, vomiting, and in worst cases, nose bleeding from internal hemorrhage.

The dengue virus is transmitted from one person to another by an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito, which thrives in clean and stagnant water.

Health officials suggest that once there is a fever that has not gone down for two or three days, especially if there is an outbreak in the area, one should be checked for dengue hemorrhagic fever through tests administered at the nearest medical facility.