DESPITE DROP IN DENGUE CASES

THE City Health Office is not relaxing its guard in its campaign to control the spread of  dengue despite the significant drop in the number of cases from January to June this year to 77 compared number of cases over the past three years.

City Health Officer Dr. Ophelia Rivera said last year’s 424 cases was already lower by 22% but her office remains on the alert knowing that that an upsurge is usually experienced every three years and 2019 is the third year since the number started dropping in 2016.

Rivera underscored this when she reported to the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) on July 22 amid the declaration of a National Dengue Alert because of the outbreak in the Visayas.

A worker sprays school compound. (Punchphoto by Willie Lomibao)

She said CHO conducted misting operations in all public schools before the opening of classes to secure pupils and students from dengue, and also distributed chemically-treated mosquito nets in every school to be used as curtains in classrooms to keep dengue-carrying mosquitoes out.

At the same time, she said stagnant water around school campuses have been treated with  larvacidal.

Rivera said the information drive to create higher awareness for the “Four S” (Search and destroy breeding places of mosquitoes, Secure self-protection by wearing long sleeve shirts and pants, Seek early consultation and Say ‘yes’ to fogging only when there is outbreak or epidemic.

She said the “Four S” has been translated to Pangasinan language to help communicate the message as directed by DOH.

She urged the SP to pass an ordinance mandating all households, offices and schools to adopt the Four O-Clock Habit of cleaning their surroundings as cleanliness to effectively check the spread of dengue. (The SP already passed an ordinance mandating households to adopt and internalize the Four S). 

Meanwhile, CHO already registered three leptospirosis cases with one death from  Barangay Tebeng since January. In 2018, 118 cases were registered after the extended flooding  spawned by monsoon rains. In 2017, there were 45 cases.

She said CHO can provide prophylaxis to prevent anyone from contracting leptospirosis after being exposed to floodwaters. (Leonardo Micua)

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