BAGUIO CITY – The City Health Services Office reiterates its call on Baguio folks to clean possible mosquito breeding sites as Dengue cases reached an alarming level.
HSO Infectious Disease Program Coordinator Dr. Donnabel L. Tubera, in a press conference Friday, reported that from January 1 to June 18, 683 Dengue cases were recorded in Baguio, a five – fold increase compared to the 103 cases recorded during the same period last year. Fortunately, here is no Dengue death recorded.
Barangay with clustering of cases are Atab, Aurora Hill, City Camp, Engineer’s Hill, Irisan, Loakan, Lucban, Pinsao, and Quirino Hill which have 50 or more recorded cases.
Barangays of Asin, Atok Trail, Campo Filipino, Mines View, Pacdal, Quezon Hill, and Scout Barrio also recorded clustering of cases.
Tubera warned that Dengue cases are expected to rise with the rainy season based on the health department’s annual experiences.
For this month up to October, we expect that Dengue cases will continue to rise, so we strongly advice the public to religiously conduct daily search and destroy (of possible Dengue mosquito breeding sites) activity in their respective home, backyard and community, Tubera stressed.
Do the Four o’ clock habit and the Aksyon Barangay Kontra Dengue (ABKD) every day and do not just do operation “taob” or getting rid of water from roof gutters, open containers, flower vase or pots, cans or caps. Do a thorough cleaning to ensure that there will be no mosquito eggs or larvae left in the area, she added.
Dr. Thea Pamela Cajulao of Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center, in the same presscon, also outlined that the increase in Dengue cases was also brought by the changes in temperature due to climate change and the congestion of people in the city.
She assured that BGHMC as well as the other hospitals in Baguio are fully equipped and ready to manage and treat Dengue patients. She emphasized that early diagnosis is very important so that treatment will not be prolonged./JDP/CCD/ S. Venzon, CJ Viduya & H. Quintos – PIA/UP Interns