Duque warns parents, schoolchildren, teachers: Threat of dengue is year-round

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Friday warned parents, teachers, and schoolchildren in Pampanga of the year-round threat of dengue.

The dialogue was held at the San Isidro Elementary School in Barangay San Isidro in the City of San Fernando.

Duque told the audience that regardless of whether a person has been inoculated with the Dengvaxia dengue vacccine or not, the threat of dengue remains.

"Aking mga kababayan, may Dengvaxia man o wala, ang banta ng dengue ay permanenteng bahagi ng buhay ng mga Pilipino," he told the parents of children who have been inoculated with the said vaccine.

"Sabihin na nating matagumpay ang Dengvaxia pero dahil limitado lang ang nabigyan ng bakuna, marami sa inyong anak malamang hindi rin nabakunahan o sila ay bukas sa banta ng dengue. Pwede rin silang magkaroon ng dengue anytime," Duque added.

The DOH secretary reminded the audience that dengue is now a year-round disease and is no longer common only during the wet season.

"Tandaan natin, dengue has lost its seasonality. Dati wet season ang dengue; 'pag dry season nawawala ang dengue... Nagbago na ang ating klima," he said.

Duque said since the threat of dengue is permanent and present year-round, the solution is prevention.

"Kaya ko sinasabi ito, dahil ang banta ng dengue ay permanente sa tao. That is why ang solusyon dito, prevention. Health promotion at prevention," he said.

The DOH secretary said parents should learn how to spot the symptoms of dengue which may be seen even in those who were inoculated with Dengvaxia.

Duque said there are four strains of dengue. The Dengvaxia vaccine can give only 60 percent protection against these strains, he said.

The Health secretary urged parents to bring their children to the hospital right away for consultation once symptoms start. "'Wag magdadalawang isip," he said.

He added that he himself had dengue in 1995. It is important for dengue patients to have adequate hydration from fluids and dextrose, he said.

Duque also spoke before health workers during the Provincial Dengue Summit in the City of San Fernando.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III speaks to health workers at the Provincial Dengue Summit in San Fernando Pampanga. pic.twitter.com/54OHl38bzy

— Chino Gaston (@chinogaston) January 19, 2018

—KG, GMA News