Article by:
Izza Reynoso
PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan – City health officials have sounded the warning bells over rising cases of dengue here amid the onset of the rainy season.
As of Tuesday’s data from the City Health Office (CHO), there have been 954 dengue cases overall this year.
Dengue virus is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.
The City Epidemiology Surveillance Unit of the CHO said the villages with the highest number of active dengue cases in Puerto Princesa, all located in urban areas, are Sta. Monica, 112 cases; San Jose, 110; San Pedro, 99; Sicsican, 75; and Tiniguiban, 56.
Cabayugan, a rural barangay, has 22 cases.
Kent Ventura, head of the CHO Vector-Borne Unit, said the cases are still manageable.
“What’s important is that the mortality this year is lower compared to last year,” Ventura said during the "Dengue Awareness Celebration" on Monday.
It was learned that the total mortality in 2022 was 19 while there were nine so far this year.
Despite the high number of dengue cases, Ventura highlighted the significant role played by the information and education campaign, as well as the Dengue Fastlane Consultation hub at the city coliseum, in raising community awareness about dengue.
The main challenge the CHO has encountered thus far is the delayed consultation of patients exhibiting symptoms of the disease.
“Our constant advice is for them to seek early consultation. One to two days of high fever, one should already seek consultation,” he said.
“We have a free consultation in our dengue fast lane. There is an available doctor from Monday to Friday so there’s no reason for us not to get tested."
Dr. Ricardo Panganiban, chief of CHO, urged residents to actively embrace the health department's anti-dengue campaign slogan “5S” or Search and Destroy; Self-protect; Seek early consultation; Support fogging and misting in outbreak areas; and Sustain Hydration.
He emphasized that the majority of the campaign slogans revolve around preventive measures that require the involvement of the community and households.
However, the responsibilities of management and diagnosis lie within the purview of health services.
"From a preventive standpoint, if you analyze them, most of these activities are to be carried out by the community, with the exception of misting and fogging," Panganiban explained in an interview.
According to Panganiban, this is precisely why they are urging everyone to contribute and collaborate, aiming to prevent a further escalation of cases.
The Dengue Awareness Celebration is held annually in June, which coincides with the onset of the rainy season.
“We all know that when the rainy season starts, it is also the time that dengue cases rise. But the problem now is that even if it is not rainy, cases are still high,” Panganiban added. (PNA)
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