Dengue afflicts 45 folk in Bontoc

BY BERLIN MCINTOSH

BONTOC, Mountain Province – The dreaded dengue disease has afflicted 45 residents at latest count and the number is rising, health officials said.
Nenita Lizardo, head of the provincial health office bared this saying this was alarming.

Lizardo said health personnel earlier recorded 30 cases in September but this went up to 45 in October with 55 percent of these cases from Bontoc.

Lizardo said that there is a need to advocate the 4-S program to against dengue. The 4-S means “search and destroy” to include eliminating all breeding sites for the mosquito, proper waste disposal, covering of water containers, and cleaning of roof gutters and drains.

Under the program protection measures advocates use of long sleeves and pants, installing screens on doors and windows, use of mosquito nets and
adapting a healthy lifestyle to boost resistance.

Lizardo advised constituents to seek consultation as there was no drug or vaccine for dengue.

“Dengue suspects must be brought to the nearest health facility immediately and that there should be no self- medication,” she said, adding indiscriminate fogging should only be done during outbreaks and epidemics.

Dengue fever is a viral disease transmitted from an infected human to another human by the female Aedis mosquito.

Claudio Pancho, Dept. of Health representative to this province said the aedis mosquito is a day biter and prefers to bite just after sunrise and before sunrise.
One distinct characteristic of this mosquito is the black and white stripes all over its body and its breeding sites are clear stagnant water. “Once the mosquito is infected, it is infected for life,” he said.

Signs and symptoms of dengue are high continuous fever lasting from two to seven days, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, muscle and joint pains, pain behind the eyes, abdominal pain, body weakness, nose or gum bleeding and rashes.

With the rising number of dengue fever cases in this town, an information campaign is underway initiated by provincial health officials on awareness and prevention of dengue fever.