EDITORIAL - Dengue also a problem to watch for

Apparently there is more than just one disease to watch out for nowadays aside from COVID-19.

According to the Integrated Provincial Health Office, dengue cases are on the rise in different areas of the province. Data from the IPHO shows that from January this year to last June 11, there have been 2,494 dengue cases with 12 deaths.

"Pagka-karon tagaan nato ug panahon sad ug pagtagad ang uban nga sakit dili lang kay COVID," said Provincial Health Officer Dr. Christina Giango.

Long before COVID-19 became a problem and a worldwide pandemic, Cebu and other parts of the country have continually struggled with dengue, an illness known to rear its ugly head especially during the rainy season. And according Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, the rainy season has already started.

This means that aside from making sure we keep our distance from others in public and always wear face masks, we should also go the extra mile to remove standing and stagnant water near our residences and make sure the mosquitoes don’t get inside our homes or workplaces.

It’s easy to ignore safeguarding against one virus in favor of the other virus, but we do so at our own peril.

During normal times if someone is afflicted with dengue, his or her family had the option to take the afflicted to almost any hospital. However, these are not normal times.

In these times under quarantine restrictions because of the coronavirus, you can expect options to be limited when it comes to where you can take someone infected with dengue and how to transport that person.

Needless to say this adds another layer of complication and hassle to an already troublesome situation. Not to mention an added layer of expenses.

Dealing with one virus is enough, and this one is already more trouble than it’s worth. We must make sure we don’t have to deal with another.