No dengue epidemic in Dagupan
DAGUPAN may have the highest number of dengue cases compared to other towns in the province but it has not reached epidemic level.
In a radio interview Thursday, City Health Officer Leonard Carbonell clarified that the 20 dengue cases recorded this month was lower compared to the same period last year, and still below the threshold to declare an epidemic.
Clustering, or the high concentration of dengue cases in an area over a period of time, may indicate an epidemic, but none has been recorded yet, he pointed out.
“The high incidence of dengue does not denote the vulnerability of the people to the disease but rather the awareness of the public on the symptoms,” Carbonell said as he noted that the victims sought medical attention before their conditions become fatal.
Meanwhile, the City Health Office has already conducted fogging operations in the affected areas to drive away the dengue-carrying mosquitoes.
But Carbonell stressed that fogging is just a stop-gap solution as mosquito larvae could still be breeding in the areas.
He called on the communities to continuously clean and get rid of stagnant water in canal, vases, roof gutters and empty cans or bottles that serve as breeding grounds of mosquitoes,
Use of second-hand motor oils on water may also kill mosquito larvae but it is not advised because it harms the environment, he explained.
Use of self-protection such as lotion, long sleeve, mosquito net and insect repellents can serve as effective deterrence, he added.
Carbonell advised people to seek medical attention as soon as symptoms appear and dissuaded them from using medicines other than those prescribed by doctors.
Symptoms of dengue, which appear four to six days after exposure, include fever, headache, muscle ache, joint ache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting and, in the advance stage, the appearance of red skin rashes.
No dengue-related fatality has so far been recorded this year. (PIA-Pangasinan)
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