BAGUIO CITY – – The Department of Health – Cordillera is promoting Dengue Awareness Month and reminds the public anew to make sure to search, clean and destroy possible Dengue mosquito sites inside their homes and their surroundings.
DOH–CAR Entomologist III Alexander Baday, in a Kapihan media forum here, reported that from January to May 29, there are already 298 cases of Dengue suspects and five Dengue–related deaths recorded in the region.
For the recorded cases, Benguet has the most number with 173, followed by Baguio City with 67, Kalinga with 19, Ifugao with 14, Apayao with 11, and Mountain Province with four cases. .Only the province of Abra has no reported Dengue case.
Baday said there were also 10 non – Cordillera cases that were treated and recorded in the region.
For the five death cases, four were from Baguio City and one from Benguet with 5 years old as the youngest and 45 years old as the oldest among the fatalities, he added.
With the onset of the rainy season, where Dengue cases normally increase, the DOH–CAR reiterates the 4S against Dengue namely, Search and Destroy possible mosquito breeding sites, Self – protection measures, Seek early Consultation and Support fogging/Spraying only in hotspot areas.
Aside from the coronavirus disease pandemic, we must also be cautious on other preventable diseases/illnesses such as dengue and let us start the needed interventions in our homes and surroundings, Baday said.
He also reminds the public that with the implementation of community quarantines, there are more people, both children and adults, staying at home, thus there is really a need to clean regularly possible mosquito breeding sites.
With urban or backyard gardening gaining more popularity in this time of COVID – 19, Baday also reminds people against stagnant water on plants or pots and other gardening materials and to ensure that all water containers have covers or lids.
The month of June is observed in the country as Dengue Awareness Month. On June 15 is also the observance of ASEAN Dengue Day which for this year adopts the theme, “United against Dengue amid the COVID – 19 pandemic”. **JDP/CCD-PIA CAR