The Department of Health-Cordillera is not lowering its guard against dengue, saying cases are expected to increase, as this is the season for the mosquito-borne disease.
DOH-CAR Asst. Director Amelita Pangilinan said cases will continue to rise, which is a trend every three years and especially since the rainy season has begun.
As of June 25, DOH-CAR logged 4,000 dengue cases of which 3,777 are residents of the region.
All provinces have reported clustering of cases with 175 barangays affected. The most affected group is the 16 to 20 years old.
The DOH-CAR reported 1,763 cases have been detected in the last four weeks with Benguet having the most number with 537, followed by Apayao with 505 and Kalinga with 254 cases.
Pangilinan said the DOH is investigating on the reported outbreak in Calanasan and Pudtol in Apayao and Rizal and Tabuk City in Kalinga.
Cases of the vector-borne disease started increasing in April with the highest number of cases reported in morbidity week 13 covering June 25. Cases for the period reached 522.
With a complacent and indifferent public, Pangilinan said the threat of dengue will remain.
“This is the dengue season. If we will not do our part, cases will continue to increase,” she said.
The agency has intensified its dengue prevention campaign with the issuance of advisories to the local government units and the Department of Education and reiteration to the barangays to observe the 4-S practice.
The 4-S strategy 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 repellant, seek early consultation, and support fogging in areas where an increase in cases is noted.
For the first strategy, Pangilinan advised plant enthusiasts to do away with using flower vases as these are ideal breeding sites of dengue-carrying mosquitos.
The use of mosquito nets is also encouraged, in addition to wearing long-sleeved clothes as part of the second strategy against dengue. – Jane B. Cadalig
