Metro folk advised: Take precautions vs dengue even during summer

Despite the hot dry summer, dengue remains a potentially serious threat, the Department of Health's Metro Manila unit said Friday.

 

According to DOH Metro Manila head Eduardo Janairo, dengue already claimed seven lives in the first three months of 2013.

 

“We have to be reminded that dengue is perennial throughout the year, even during these very hot season, dengue-carrying mosquitoes are still very much present in our surroundings. That is why we must be vigilant and continually conduct cleaning activities inside and outside our homes so as not to be a victim of dengue,” Janairo said.

 

He reminded the public to keep their surroundings clean and dry to prevent dengue-carrying mosquitoes from breeding.

 

Also, he advised residents to take precautions like wearing long sleeves, applying repellants, and installing mosquito screens on windows and doors to prevent being bitten by mosquitoes carrying the dengue virus.

 

“And the best way to (control if not eliminate dengue) is to make our surrounding clean and make it a habit to ensure that it is tidy at all times,” he said.

 

1st quarter statistics

 

Citing figures from the DOH Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (RESU), the DOH Metro Manila unit said 2,332 cases were recorded from January 1 to April 13 this year. For last week alone, there were 25 admissions noted.

 

But it said the total number of cases so far this year was 61 percent lower compared to the 5,948 recorded in same period last year.

 

Most of the cases were from:

 

- Quezon City (452)

- Manila (378)

- Caloocan City (260)

- Parañaque City (150)

- Pasig City (137)

- Pasay City (131)

- Malabon City (119)

- Valenzuela City (109).

 

The victims were aged one month to 77 years old. About 43 percent of those affected are from 15 to 49 years old. Slightly over half, or 54 percent, were male.

 

Janairo said the DOH Metro Manila unit is performing anti-dengue operations in areas with a high incidence of dengue.

 

These include spraying and misting activities along with clean-up drives in coordination with the city health office and local government units (LGUs) concerned.

 

"Spraying machines, chemicals, and health education activities for dengue are also being given by the region," the DOH said. —KG, GMA News