FIGHT VS. DENGUE. Dengue cases in Ilocos Region from Jan. 1 to May 18 this year decreased by 24.4 percent as compared to the same period last year. Health authorities called for vigilance against the disease among residents, especially with the rainy season and La Niña threat. (PNA file photo)
MALASIQUI, Pangasinan – Health authorities in the Ilocos Region are urging the public to remain vigilant against dengue amid the onset of the rainy season and the threat of La Niña.
Dr. Rheuel Bobis, the Department of Health Center for Health and Development-Ilocos Region (DOH-CHD-1) medical officer, said in a phone interview on Tuesday that dengue cases typically increase during the rainy season, which brings about more mosquito breeding sites, especially with the possibility of floods that the La Niña could cause.
Based on the DOH-CHD-1’s data, the total number of dengue cases in the region from Jan. 1 to May 18 was 896 cases, which decreased by 24.4 percent compared to the 1,185 cases in the same period in 2023.
In Pangasinan, 568 dengue cases were recorded; 59 in Ilocos Norte; 149 in Ilocos Sur; and 120 in La Union.
There were two reported deaths due to dengue, both from Pangasinan in the given period in 2024 while there were three in the same period in 2023.
The slight decrease in dengue cases can be attributed to the intensified campaign against the disease by the local government units, Bobis said.
Nonetheless, he urged the public to be vigilant and practice the "4S" in fighting dengue: destroy mosquito-breeding Sites, Secure self-protection measures, Seek early consultation, and Support fogging or spraying in areas with clustered cases.
“Dengue is an all-year-round disease but it usually increases during the rainy season as there are a lot of breeding sites in the rainy season,” he said.
The implementation of the 4S is backed by the 4 o’clock habit of searching for containers and other breeding sites of mosquitoes and eventually destroying them in every household, he added.
The Pangasinan Provincial Health Office also advised the public to wear long-sleeved shirts and pants or use safe mosquito repellants, clean and cover containers that could become breeding grounds for mosquitoes, ensure cleanliness of surroundings, cover trash bins, avoid storing old tires and other containers that could collect water from the rain, and use mosquito nets if necessary to prevent dengue.
Bobis also reminded the public to seek medical consultation upon early symptoms of the disease to prevent possible death of the patients. (PNA)
