DOH monitoring dengue cases

MANILA – Malacañang on Wednesday assured the public that the Department of Health (DOH) is on top of situation amid the reported dengue outbreak in some parts of the country.

In April, the DOH reported a rise in dengue cases in several areas and provinces in Zamboanga Peninsula, Cagayan Valley, Western Visayas, and Davao regions.

“Mino-monitor na ito ng Department of Health (The Department of Health is monitoring the situation),” acting Presidential Spokesperson and Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said in an online press briefing.

Andanar advised the public to clean up their surroundings to control dengue transmission.

He gave the advice, considering that dengue-carrying mosquitoes thrive on dirty areas and stagnant water.

“Pinapaalalahanan po natin ang lahat na maging malinis sa kanilang lugar upang huwag pamugaran ng mga lamok na may dalang dengue (We remind the public to clean their surroundings to get rid of dengue-carrying mosquitoes),” Andanar said.

To help dengue patients, the DOH has activated fast lanes in hospitals and prepositioned logistical needs of regional and local governments, including the chemicals used to prevent the spread of the mosquitoes.

Local government units have also been advised to implement the “4S strategy,” which refers to search and destroy mosquito-breeding sites; self-protection measures; seek early consultation of symptoms; and support spraying or fogging to prevent further outbreaks.

Dengue is a viral infection transmitted to humans through a bite of infected mosquitoes called Aedes aegypti, which are most active between two hours after sunrise and two hours before sunset.

The most common symptoms of dengue include fever with nausea, vomiting, rashes, aches and pains, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.