The City Health Services Office is looking into the reported increase in the cases of influenza as well as re-emergence of some diseases in the city.
City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit head Dr. Donnabel Tubera-Panes said Department of Education Baguio Health and Nutrition head, Dr. Roger Sinot, Jr. reported to them that 6,596 cases of influenza in elementary and high school students were treated since September to date.
Upon learning the report, Mayor Benjamin Magalong gave directives for parents to check on their children, keep them from school once symptoms of influenza are observed, and inform their teachers.
Magalong said parents should bring their children for consultation at the nearest health facility.
On re-emerging diseases, alert has been raised on chikungunya, a mosquito-borne disease with symptoms of fever, rash, and chronic to severe joint pains that could persist up to years.
Panes said chikungunya is slightly different from dengue and could be detected through laboratory tests.
No cases have been seen yet in the city, but public transport terminals are regularly being disinfected and monitored to ensure no infection-carrying mosquitos could travel from chikungunya-infected areas.
Whooping cough or pertussis is also supposedly eliminated and no cases were seen for 10 years, but low immunization rate is monitored.
As for malaria, Baguio and Benguet have no cases yet, but overseas Filipino workers from Africa are being monitored. – Julie G. Fianza
