Alert
The Department of Health has just declared a National Dengue Alert due to a significant increase in dengue cases in different parts of the country but did not declare an outbreak. According to DOH data, 456 people have died from dengue in the first six months of this year. More than 100,000 cases of dengue have been recorded representing an 85% increase compared to last year.
Areas where dengue has increased dramatically, are Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan), Western Visayas, Central Visayas, and Northern Mindanao. Some areas are being monitored due to a rising rate of dengue cases. And to think the full brunt of the rainy season has not yet begun.
The purpose of the alert is to inform the citizenry and mobilize them to be cautious. Cleaning the surroundings is once again stressed, especially where water is stored. Containers should not be left open. Mosquitoes can lay their eggs in just a little amount of water such as an inverted bottle cap.
Stagnant water must be cleaned away. When many mosquitoes are already present especially during the day, a fogging operation is called for. Barangay leaders may be called upon for this. The Aedes Aegypti species responsible for carrying the dengue virus bites more often during the daytime. Schoolchildren should be allowed to wear long pants or even long sleeves to protect against mosquito bites.
There is a vaccine for dengue but we all know its fate in the country. What I would like to know is if the dengue vaccination program of the past administration helped the 830,000 children who were administered. Setting all controversy and politics aside, did the vaccine help prevent dengue or not?
A specific location was chosen for the program so there should be some data. To this day searching the internet reveals there is no recorded adverse effect of Dengvaxia among the other countries that have approved its use and sale. They simply informed the public of the warning and updates of the manufacturer. Granted they did not launch a national vaccination program similar to what the past administration did, its use was not in question.
I sincerely hope this year's dengue situation will not worsen. The DOH is right to announce an alert, especially in areas where the increase is highly significant and to inform citizens to keep their surroundings clean. We still have six more months to deal with. Remember that the animal responsible for the most number of human deaths is still the mosquito. Unbelievable how such a tiny insect can bring so much grief.
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