MAGUINDANAO, Philippines -- Health authorities are scrambling to address the high prevalence of dengue cases in Maguindanao province, where six out of more than 400 patients have died of the mosquito-borne disease in recent weeks.
The leading broadcast outfit in Cotabato City, the Catholic station dxMS, on Wednesday reported that Maguindanao’s Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) again intensified its anti-dengue drive in the province to address the problem.
The IPHO had recorded 428 dengue cases in recent weeks, according to dxMS.
Most of the dengue patients brought to municipal health centers and at the provincial hospital in Shariff Aguak town are from villages along rivers and swamps that connect to the oft-flooded Liguasan Delta.
The Department of Health advises getting rid of trash piles and other places where mosquitos can hide as well as any stagnant water, where they can lay eggs. Mosquito coils and insect repellents as well as screens on doors and windows can help protect against dengue as well. The Health department also urged residents to allow anti-mosquito fogging when there is an impending outbreak of the disease. -- John Unson
The Department of Health advises getting rid of trash piles and other places where mosquitos can hide as well as any stagnant water, where they can lay eggs. Mosquito coils and insect repellents as well as screens on doors and windows can help protect against dengue as wel.