The rainy season may have caused rejoicing among farmers but like the proverbial two sides to an issue, the rains have also brought with it more mosquitoes along with the deadly dengue fever.{{more}}
Hospitals in Dumaguete City and Negros Oriental are already teeming with dengue patients that some hospitals are even refusing to accept more patients. The total number of dengue cases recorded in the government and private hospitals in Negros Oriental stood at 594 cases as of August 26. The good news, if you can call it that, is that this year’s total dengue cases is still lower than last year’s 762. But this could still increase due to the rains, the Department of Health officials tell us.
This time where dengue fever is at its highest is a regular occurrence not only in Dumaguete and Negros Oriental but in the entire country, where a total of four strains of dengue have already been recorded.
The dengue-carrying mosquito has been around for quite some time now. We have come to know that dengue can be fatal but its deadly effects can be effectively mitigated by prevention, early detection and treatment.
Maintaining clean surroundings and getting rid of plants or waste materials that hold stagnant water is an effective way of preventing the Aedis egypti mosquito from multiplying. Another way of preventing dengue is to wear clothing that covers a big part of your body–wearing tubeless blouses and short shorts should be discouraged at this time of the year.
Dengue cannot be totally eradicated but if we adopt the simple risk-mitigating measures, we can remain dengue free in the months to come.
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