3 die of dengue in Abra

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – The dreaded dengue virus has claimed at least three casualties in Abra province, the Abra Provincial Health Office headed by Dr. Godofredo Gasa had reported. 

Catherine Cabunoc, head nurse of the Abra Provincial Hospital confirmed the death as she urged the public to observe cleanliness especially in houses, schools as well as offices and all other establishments to ensure that breeding places for dengue biting mosquitoes are eliminated. 

The provincial health department staff are now campaigning for people to refrain from the use of flower vases for fresh flowers because these are the most potent breeding stations of dengue mosquitoes. 

Moreover, the all-out campaign on dengue prevention is already ongoing in Abra with barangay folks highly involved in the massive cleaning of the environment. 

Health personnel are also advocating the 4 o’clock habit – replacement of water in flower vases and emptying all water containers that are potential ha­bi­­tat of the dengue mosquitoes.

They also advised the people to cover containers of clean water since dengue mosquitoes also thrive in clean waters.  

The health department here has raised alarms on the dengue situation in Baguio City, Ifugao and Mountain Province after a marked increase of its incidence in these provinces. 

Meanwhile, in Tabuk, Kalinga, results of hog blood samples recently brought for laboratory test at the Philippine Animal Health Center in Manila has confirmed of a cholera and Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) mixed infection attack among hogs there.  

Godofredo Laed of the Provincial Veterinary Office said their office made the move following reports from hog raisers of widespread cases of severe diarrhea and still-births among hogs since July.

Based on their investigations, Laed said the virus may have originated from infected pork and live hogs brought to Tabuk.