Wrong practices, global warming cited as contributing factors
Reported cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever increased in the city despite massive information campaign for its prevention as disclosed by DoH Regional Director Myrna Cabotaje in the weekly Kapihan with the media.
BY CYE REYES
Northern Dispatch
Posted by Bulatlat
Vol. VIII, No. 21, June 29-July 5, 2008
BAGUIO CITY (246 kms north of Manila) – Reported cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever increased in the city despite massive information campaign for its prevention as disclosed by Department of Health (DoH) Regional Director Myrna Cabotaje in the weekly Kapihan with the media.
From January to June of this year, there were already 134 reported cases of dengue infection here, a whopping 70-percent increase from the 94 cases in January-June 2007.
According to Cabotaje, this increase could be attributed to the incorrect preventive practices of the residents.
“The people’s level of awareness is high enough in terms of the need to prevent the breeding of dengue mosquitoes but there is still a need for a massive information drive on how to do it properly,” said Cabotaje.
Cabotaje also cited global warming as one factor on the increasing dengue cases. She said that this climatic phenomenon shortens the incubation period of mosquitoes, thus it is now possible for these mosquitoes to reproduce and multiply faster.
“It cannot be discounted (however) that maybe there is an increase in the reported cases because the people are now more aware compared to the previous years when people (knew) nothing about the disease and did not report,” said Cabotaje.
Among the 129 barangays (villages) in Baguio City, 13 were identified as hotspot areas for dengue, namely Barangays Asin, ABCR, Aurora Hill, Brookside, Camp 7, Fairview, Loakan Proper, Engineer’s Hill, Quezon Hill Proper, Sta. Escolastica, Lourdes Extension, New Lucban and Irisan.
Although the DoH identified these hotspots, Cabotaje said there is still no reason to be alarmed.
“A hotspot may be declared (as such) if there is an increase in (the number of cases) within two consecutive weeks,” Cabotaje said, adding that there are also some reported cases in other barangays.
Meanwhile, Coun. Erdolpho Balajadia, chairman of the City Council’s Committee on Environment, Health and Sanitation authored a resolution to declare that there is an eminent danger of dengue in the city and to authorize the city to draw from the calamity funds for its prevention.
“This is a wake-up call for us and we cannot compromise the health of the constituents of the city,” said Balajadia. “What is the use of a beautiful spruced up city when the people are not healthy?”
Balajadia said he would rather neglect “everything but health.”
The resolution was unanimously approved by the Council and is now waiting for the approval of Mayor Peter Rey Bautista.
If approved by the mayor, funds would be allotted for an entomological survey, misting machines, larvaecides, insecticides and other equipment.
Among the Cordillera provinces, Benguet has the highest number of reported dengue cases with 60, followed by Abra with nine, Mountain Province with eight, Ifugao with five, Apayao with three and Kalinga with two cases.
Ifugao was the only province that recorded a decrease in dengue cases from 2007 to 2008, while Apayao and Kalinga did not have any reported case last year.
The month of June is Dengue Awareness Month. Northern Dispatch / Posted by Bulatlat