BAGUIO CITY – Dengue fever cases in the Cordillera significantly increased during the first two months of this year compared to the number of cases that had been recorded by the health department during the same period last year.
Based on the data obtained from the Cordillera office of the Department of Health (DOH-CAR), there were some 502 dengue fever cases that were reported from the different parts of the region from January 1 to March 5, 2022 compared to the 120 cases only which were documented during the same period last year.
Further, dengue fever cases in Baguio City, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga and Mountain Province remain high compared to the previous year that contributed to the significant increase in cases during the first 2 months of this year.
Of the aforesaid number of dengue fever cases, Benguet reported the highest number of cases with 201 followed by Kalinga with 86, Baguio City – 72, Apayao – 63, Ifugao – 38 and Mountain Province – 12 apart from the 30 cases that came from the non-CA provinces but were treated and confined in the different health facilities in the region.
On the other hand, Abra remained the only province in the region with zero dengue fever cases since the start of the year.
Humpfrey Alejandro, DOH-CAR epidemiology and surveillance officer, claimed that the dengue cases in Baguio City and other municipalities in the region have allegedly exceeded the weekly alert and epidemic thresholds aside from the existence of barangays that listed clustering of cases over the past several months.
The DOH-Car disclosed that there was only a single dengue-related death in the region since the start of the year which is much lower compared to the number of deaths that were reported by the agency during the same period last year.
The DOH-CAR reminded the public to regularly put to practice cleanliness in their surroundings by always clearing the containers from stagnant and clear water which is the breeding ground of the dengue carrying mosquitoes.
Lately, health authorities categorized dengue fever as a year-round illness instead of the previous rainy season sickness as the reproduction of the dengue carrying mosquitoes continue even during the dry season, especially in areas where there is clear and stagnant water.
Moreover, dengue is also considered to be cyclical because cases surges every 3 to 4 years which made health authorities consider that it is one of the illnesses that is under close monitoring because of the clustering of cases that usually transpire in thickly populated places.
Dengue viruses are spread to people through the bite of an infected Aedes mild symptoms of dengue can be confused with other illnesses that cause fever, aches and pains, or a rash. The most common symptom of dengue is fever with any of the following: Nausea, vomiting, Rash, Aches and pains (eye pain, typically behind the eyes, muscle, joint, or bone pain) Any warning sign. Symptoms of dengue typically last 2–7 days. Most people will recover after about a week.
Earlier, the health department embarked on the practice of the so-called 4 o’clock habit where residents are encouraged to conduct regular cleanup inside and outside their residences to ensure that there will be no containers that have clear and stagnant water to avoid the multiplication of the dengue carrying mosquito and avert possible outbreaks of the dreaded virus in different communities.
Among the possible breeding ground of dengue carrying mosquitoes include flower vases, tires, bottles, pots, and other containers that are open and are filled up with water.