Mindanaotoday.com | Hot weather boosts dengue drive in Oro
By: URIEL QUILINGUING
Mosquito breeding sites must have dried up due to lack or absence of rain — raising daytime temperatures beyond normal, thus aiding dengue disease campaign, at least in the first five months this year, in Cagayan de Oro.
Physician Teodulfo Joselito Retuya Jr., City Health Office resident epidemiologist, hinted this climate change’s silver-lining in an interview on Thursday, June 1, in time for the 25th National Dengue Awareness Month.
He said a 29-percent decrease or 482 cases for morbidity weeks 1 to 21, January to May this year, has been recorded, compared to the 676 cases in the same period last year.
This is contrary to a 94-percent rise in the number of dengue cases, January 1 to March 18, this year, nationwide compared to the same period last year, as reported by the Department of Health.
The DOH reported that Northern Mindanao had logged in 1,620 dengue cases January 1 to February 18, this year, and was 4th among 17 regions, behind the National Capital Region (2,609), Central Luzon (2,024), and Calabarzon (1,704).
“But let’s not be complacent, dengue cases may go up on the onset of rains,” said Retuya, who has been monitoring dengue cases in Cagayan de Oro for over three decades now. “There is a three-year cycle, and last year was high.” In 2019 dengue outbreak, cases started to rise in June and reached its peak in August, that year.
The 482 dengue cases in Cagayan de Oro, consisted of 165 in January, 145 in February, 63 in March, 58 in April, and 51 in May, out of CHO’s case-and-vector surveillance activities which community health workers regularly do.
“We have already reminded our health education and promotion personnel to revive anti-dengue campaign,” Retuya said, referring to the so-called 4S – search and destroy breeding sites, self-protection, seek early consultation, and support fogging and spraying.
Dengue fever is transmitted through the bite (prick) of an infected (flavivirus or dengue virus) female Aedes mosquito — usually two hours after sunrise and two hours before sunset.
Among the symptoms include fever, headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, skin rash – similar to measles — and/or nose or gum bleeding.
Dengue fever may progress to a more severe form known as dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) which could be fatal, if not recognized and treated promptly.
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