Health office worries on dengue upsurge in villages

THE City Health Office (CHO) is conducting a sustained monitoring system on dengue cases in all 180 barangays in Iloilo City after 66 villages reported 105 cases in one week from June 10-16, 2012.

Majority of the victims are children aged 5 to 14 years old with 57 cases followed by those 1 to 4 years old with 24 cases.

CHO reported there are already seven deaths and 529 cases of dengue fever from January to May this year as compared to eight deaths and 425 cases for the whole year in 2011.

The latest report showed the upsurge of dengue cases at the onset of the rainy season, which provides wet breeding places for the growth of dengue-carrying mosquitoes aedes aegypti and aedes albopictus.

Dr. Mae Delmo of the CHO earlier alerted city residents on the spread of dengue mosquitoes on dirty stagnant waters, even biting during the evening.

Delmo said this particular mosquito strain has mutated to develop new mosquitoes that bite during daytime and breed in any places with dirty or even clean water.

The CHO urges barangay officials to immediately report any suspected dengue cases in their respective villages so that remedial health services will be rendered immediately including hospitalization of the patient.

But Delmo said this can be prevented by cleanliness campaigns in the barangays. Residents must also help in keeping their surroundings clean to eradicate breeding places of mosquitoes. (Lydia C. Pendon/Sunnex)