The Department of Health (DOH) reported that the dengue cases recorded is 46 percent lower compared to the cases in the same period last year.
A total of 50, 169 cases were recorded from January 1 to May 30, 2020 while 92, 808 were recorded in 2019.
There were 15 deaths recorded also lower compared to the 29 deaths recorded last year.
“The lower number of dengue cases [this year] may possibly due to the increased awareness brought about by this pandemic situation,” said Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said during the DOH Beat Covid -19 televised press conference.
For his part, Dr. Napoleon Arevalo, DOH Disease Prevention and Control Bureau Director, reminded the public to practice the 4-S campaign against dengue.
The 4-S implementation calls for everyone to become prime movers in controlling mosquito population and avoiding any possible dengue deaths within the community.
The 4-S campaign stands for “Search and destroy mosquito-breeding sites, secure Self-protection measures like wearing long pants and long sleeved shirts and daily use of mosquito repellent, Seek early consultation, and Support fogging/spraying only in hotspot areas where increase in cases is registered for two consecutive weeks to prevent an impending outbreak.”
Dengue, a year-round disease, is an acute viral infection that affects mostly young children and infants.
It is transmitted through a bite of dengue-infected Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. These mosquitoes can lay eggs in any space or container that holds clear and stagnant water like a bottle cap, dish dryer, plant axil, gutter, trash can, old rubber tire, etc. They usually bite between 2 hours after sunrise and 2 hours before sunset and can be found inside and outside the house.
The period of the drop in bodily temperature between 3-6 days of infection marks the transition of the disease from mild to more serious categories.
Symptoms of dengue include sudden onset of fever of 2 to 7 days, plus two of the following: headache, body weakness, joint and muscle pains, pain behind the eyes, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, and skin rashes.
The DOH stressed that is important to seek early consultation between 1-3 days of fever to immediately recognize the disease, which may require the patient to increase fluid intake, especially Oral Rehydration Solution that is proven to be life-saving for dengue patients.
If the fever temperature drops to at least 1° C or to almost normal between 3-6 days, health care providers should watch out if the fever comes back and strictly monitor the possible occurrence of warning signs. These warning signs include abdominal pain or tenderness, persistent vomiting, edema, mucosal bleeding (i.e. mouth, nose, etc.), and lack of energy.
Image credits: Tacio Philip Sansonovski | Dreamstime.com
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