Residents urged to fight dengue with clean surroundings

Residents urged to fight dengue with clean surroundings

By Vicente W. Villavert, Thursday 7th of June 2012

ILOILO CITY, June 7 (PIA 6) - - With 288 cases and six deaths due to dengue from January to May this year, the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) is urging the public to sustain environmental sanitation in order to defeat dengue.

Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quinon, Assistant Provincial Health Officer I of IPHO, disclosed during the PIA-Cable TV program that an increase of 144 percent was noted in the rise of cases of the dreaded disease if compared to the January to May 2011 record with only 188 cases and one death.

“Let us not hold our guards down especially with the onset of rainy season now,” Dr. Quinon said.

Quinon cited the Iloilo’s clean up drive dubbed, “People Power Kontra Dengue,” which must be sustained to get rid of the breeding grounds of the dengue carrier mosquitoes."

“These dengue carriers breed in stagnant water that usually accumulate in used tires, empty cans and bottles, and gutters,” Quinon said as she emphasized that the house’s surrounding’s, inside and outside, must be cleaned.

As reported by Dr. Quinon, the municipality of Dumangas topped the list of dengue cases with 52 and two deaths; Pavia - 28 with two deaths; Leon - 26 and one death; Oton - 24; Tubungan - 17; Leganes - 12; Cabatuan - nine; Maasin - nine and one death; Barrotac Viejo - eight; Janiuay - eight; Barrotac Nuevo - seven.

“Of the 42 towns and one component city in Iloilo province, 39 towns are affected, and only three towns such as Concepcion, Batad and Duenas are not so affected,” Quinon said.

The Assistant Provincial Health Officer said that dengue is transmitted by a bite of an infected Aedes mosquito. Symptoms range from mild to high fever, severe headache, muscle and joint pains, and rash. There are no specific antiviral medicines for dengue.

Quinon warned against the use of aspirin because it will only harm the patient. Medical consultations must be immediately sought.

Quinon said that mosquito lays eggs about three times in its lifetime, and about 60 to 100 eggs are produced each time, “that is why let us make it a habit to clean the house premises and make sure that the breeding places are destroyed.(JCM/VWV-PIA 6, Iloilo)

Cabatuan.com - Timeline 2012