Wednesday, July 18, 2007 Kalinga notes lesser dengue cases in 2007
TABUK CITY -- While areas in the country are troubled with the increasing cases of dengue, the Kalinga province is relatively dengue-free following the strict implementation of its environmental control program.
Provincial Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (Pesu) Officer Jose Pardito Jr. said preventive measures like cleaning and eliminating possible breading sites of mosquitoes around the dengue infected areas in the province have resulted in a very minimal number of dengue cases this year.
"As of June, we only received reports of less than 10 cases but they came from different parts of the province indicating that they might have been infected somewhere else," he said, adding that these cases have shown only viral infection syndrome and not the feared hemorrhagic fever syndrome.
"Since we have implemented the 'no fogging policy', we have only received 162 cases last year with no death and less than 10 cases this year," he said.
This indicates that environmental control is still highly recommended since this is the most effective and long-term method in controlling the increase of dengue carrier mosquitoes, Pardito stressed.
He said the Department of Health (DOH) is discouraging the fogging method considering that this only kills adult mosquitoes, which is not even assured since some mosquitoes just simply escape during the process and would migrate to another area. It is also very expensive and its chemical content hazardous to health if inhaled.
The DOH, in its campaign against dengue, still prefer the cleanup and elimination of possible breeding cases like scattered cans, old rubber tires, flower pot, plastics, bottles, drums and other water containers.
It is also implementing the 4S thrust in controlling dengue. These are search and destroy; self-protection; seek early consultation; and say no to indiscriminate fogging.
Pardito said mosquitoes now have a longer life span from the usual 20-30 days to more than 30 days and they are smaller and faster. Dengue, he added, is a very dangerous disease but is preventable through the recommended measures.
Dengue fever is a seasonal viral infection characterized by fever, headache, extreme pain in the joints and muscles and skin rash. It is the most serious but less common form and can cause severe and fatal internal bleeding. The disease is transmitted from one person to another by the female Aedes Egypti mosquito.
