Saturday, July 28, 2007 Southern Mindanao dengue cases decreasing: DOH By Carlo P. Mallo
DENGUE cases in the region are going down after it breached the 1,000 mark early this month.
Contrary to a report issued by the World Health Organization that the country faces the threat of a dengue epidemic, Department of Health (DOH)-Southern Mindanao Director Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial asserted that the dengue cases in the region are already fewer compared to early this month.
"Although the number of (dengue) cases was higher this year by 22 percent, it was still within bounds of an acceptable number," Ubial said Friday.
The health director asserted that no epidemic happened in the region despite the 1,017 cases recorded this year.
She added that the health department aggressively campaigned against dengue this year by tapping schools and barangays in order to halt the mosquito-carried disease from spreading in the country.
However, she said fogging is highly discouraged as a means of fighting dengue.
She added that fogging indiscriminately kills all insects and exposes the household to the harmful chemicals.
In a previous interview, Health Secretary Francisco Duque admitted that climate change brought about by global warming has increased the risk of dengue worldwide.
Duque said the increase in temperature has brought shorter maturity timeframe for the mosquitoes, thus increasing the risk of contracting dengue.
