Rise in Aklan dengue cases in first quarter noted, less cases in 2Q

Kalibo, Aklan -- Aklan had more dengue cases in the first quarter of 2007 compared with the same period last year, according to Dr. Maria Magpusao, Chief of the Technical Services Division of the Provincial Health Office here.

Dr. Magpusao said that last year’s dengue cases during the first quarter numbered 4, but this year 2007 for the same period, the cases reached 25.

Fortunately, Dr. Magpusao said there was no dengue casualty for that period.

For the month of May, Dr. Magpusao said 7 cases were listed by the Provincial Health Office while as of this time, 5 had been recorded for the month of June. No cases were recorded for the month of April.

Dr. Magpusao said that dengue is a self-limiting disease that could be avoided by increasing one’s body resistance through consumption of fruits and other resistance-building foods; having enough rest and maintaining healthy habits. The 4 o’clock habit, that of cleaning one’s surroundings and clearing and destroying possible breeding places of mosquitoes, according to her, must also be practiced by everyone.

The Department of Health is reiterating its advice to local officials that the cleaning of surroundings should be done every six months to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes that spread diseases like malaria and dengue.

A health issue that also needs immediate attention is the 6.8 percent increase in dengue cases in the country. The current dengue fever situation has become “hyper-endemic”, which means that efforts to reduce the number of cases to its previous level are no longer feasible. This is because all four strains of the dengue-causing virus are active and are being spread by the mosquito aedes aegypti at the same time, unlike last year when only one strain of the virus was being spread. Since a person only gains immunity from one strain of the virus, as potential agents of the infection, a person can become ill with dengue four times.

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Global warming is contributing to the surge of dengue cases because warmer temperatures make mosquitoes hungrier for blood and therefore bite people more often. Blood makes the mosquito lay eggs more othen thus resulting to an increase in the mosquito population. More eggs laid results in more mosquitoes being born which grow into more carriers of the deadly dengue virus strains.

The public is advised to strictly observe the following anti-dengue measures: seek and destroy mosquito breeding places, self-protection, and seek medical treatment immediately.

The DOH has ordered hospitals to reactivate their Dengue Express Lanes. (PIA/Venus G. Villanueva)