No case of chikungunya fever here, but alert up
LINGAYEN–No case of chikungunya fever has so far been recorded in Pangasinan but the provincial health office (PHO) has issued an alert on the viral disease.
Dr. Anna Theresa de Guzman, provincial health officer, said the health facilities around the province have been given guidelines on the case description of the disease so health workers can be on the lookout for possible infections.
De Guzman said there is a big possibility that the chikungunya virus is present in the province since it is a viral disease carried by the same aedes aegypti mosquitoes that cause dengue fever.
“We have cases of dengue fever here so we are also not exempted from having chikungunya cases because they have the same carrier,” De Guzman said.
The symptoms experienced by victims of chikungunya, distinguishing it from dengue fever.
The symptoms of chikungunya are joint pain and swelling, fever, muscular pain, headache and nausea or vomiting.
“The chikungunya victim will not experience stomach pain and bleeding and no rashes as well unlike those afflicted with dengue,” she added.
Among the two diseases, dengue is deemed deadlier than chikungunya, but both are serious health threats and considered “emergencies” that require medical attention.
Health authorities continue to encourage civilians to practice the “4 o’clock habit”, which entails keeping the surrounding clean and removing containers with water that could serve as breeding ground for mosquitoes.
“Everyone should be alert against these diseases by cleaning their own surrounding and taking precautionary measures such as using mosquito nets and insect repellants,” De Guzman said.—Dada Martin Austria
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