Dengue cases up in July amid Habagat, Crising, Dante, Emong floods

The Department of Health (DOH) on Saturday said the number of dengue cases from July 13 to 26 went up slightly. 

A total of 15,091 dengue cases were recorded during the said period.

This was higher by 7% over the 14,131 cases recorded from June 29 to July 12, the DOH said.

"Matatandaang ito ang linggo nang maramdaman ang epekto ng bagyong Crising, Dante at Emong (To recall, this was the week when the effects of cyclones Crising, Dante, and Emong were felt)," the Health Department said. The Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) was enhanced by the cyclones during this period as well.

The DOH said it remains on alert for dengue cases. It also gave the public assurance that dengue fast lanes in DOH hospitals remain active.

The Health Department advised the public to take advantage of those times it isn't rainy to clean their surroundings and inspect possible places where dengue-carrying mosquitoes may breed. These include pots, rain gutter or "alulod", canals, and drainage wherein Aedes aegypti mosquitoes carrying the dengue virus may lay eggs.

"Gawin ang taob, taktak, tuyo, at takip sa mga simpleng lalagyanan ng tubig na pinamamahayan din ng nasabing lamok," the DOH said.

(Turn over, empty, keep dry, and cover simple containers of water where mosquitoes can breed.)

The Health Department also urged the public to consult the nearest health center or proceed to the dengue fast lanes in DOH hospitals should they experience symptoms such as fever for two days, rashes, body pains, eye pain, dizziness, and vomiting. 

The DOH earlier said it is looking into multiple ways to address the rising dengue cases in the country, as it aims for zero dengue-related deaths by 2030.

It also backed the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) in its advocacy of a "zero dengue death" by 2030.

At the second Dengue Summit, DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa said that lowering the number of deaths related to dengue is possible. 

“We can actually lower [the death rate] if we lower the incidence of new cases, kasi mas bababa pa talaga at magagawa natin 'yung zero [deaths] (because we really can lower it down and reach zero [deaths].) This calls not only for technical solutions but also for moral clarity in our country,” said Herbosa. —KG, GMA Integrated News