The Department of Health (DOH) Philippines said through an advisory dated April 18 that people should strengthen their health defenses by keeping their surroundings orderly amid rising cases of dengue in the country.
As of April 22, dengue cases in the country soared by 49% or an increase from 25, 298 from the same period last year to 37, 650 this year based on the latest DOH Epidemic-prone Disease Case Surveillance (EDCS) report.
Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) logged an increase in cases starting Feb. this year. By the second week of April, it recorded a slight drop of 3%, from 872 to 848 in the same period.
DOH said Aedes aegypti, the dengue-causing mosquito, is widespread during the rainy season and thrives in wet, crowded or piled, dense, and dirty areas, laying eggs in clean and stagnant water.
“Turn containers that could store water and be a breeding place for mosquitoes upside down. Cover other water containers. Recycle or throw bottles," said the advisory.
Based on the latest data from the Baguio City Health Services Office (CHSO), the city has logged 216 cases from Jan. to May 6 this year. From that number, the age group of 1-9 garnered the highest number of cases at 77.
Dengue program coordinator and sanitation division head Engr. Charles Carame said in the Feb. Ugnayang Panlungsod that the rainy season this year arrived earlier than expected. He said they are raising the alarm given the rise in cases.
“Buhayin natin ‘yung ginawa natin last year na Denguerra Thursdays na at least every week meron tayong ina-allot na community na maglinis sa ating bahay-bahay,” he said.
Having been infected by dengue twice, student Anne Aquino said that being infected by the virus is not easy given the financial toll and called for people to maintain cleanliness of their surroundings.
“Cleaning the surroundings is crucial in fighting dengue as it helps eliminate mosquito breeding grounds, reducing the risk of infection and promoting a healthier environment,” she said.
In 2022, Baguio City recorded a total of 3, 423 cases and five deaths. People aged 10-19 were most affected by dengue, with a total of 868 cases. Irisan, Loakan Proper, Camp 7, Asin Road, and Bakakeng Central were the top five dengue-affected barangays based on cumulative data from 2018-2022, CHSO said.
Recently, Mayor Benjamin Magalong entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Department of Health Center for Development of the Cordillera Administrative Region (DOH-CHD-CAR) wherein the health department would allocate 40 million pesos for the city’s anti-dengue program.
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