DOH: Dengue cases 'plateauing,' but may rise amid rainy season

The Department of Health (DOH) on Saturday said that dengue cases nationwide are starting to plateau, but there was a possibility that numbers may increase now that the rainy season has begun.

As of June 1, DOH data showed that a total of 5,368 cases were recorded from May 5 to May 18, which was slightly higher than the 5,305 cases logged from April 21 to May 4.

Meanwhile, a total of 3,793 cases were logged from May 19 to June 1, although the DOH said that it was "very cautious" in interpreting the lower tally.

Since the year started up to June 1, a total of 70,498 dengue cases were recorded across the country, with 197 deaths.

The Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos Region, Zamboanga Peninsula, Cagayan Valley, Caraga, Mimaropa, and Northern Mindanao all showed case increases in the recent three to four weeks.

Call for vigilance

Kim Patrick Tejano, a medical officer from the DOH Disease Prevention and Control Bureau, said that the public should still maintain vigilance and not be complacent with the "plateauing" of dengue cases.

"In the first quarter of this year, there is a slight decrease in the trend of dengue cases. Whereas in the first few weeks of the second quarter, we can observe a plateau in the epidemic curve of dengue cases," Tejano said in a media conference in Olongapo City.

"Usually naman po kapag [when it's the] rainy season, we expect an increase in cases," he added.

As part of the DOH's preparations this rainy season, Tejano said that the DOH was establishing dengue fast lanes in hospitals and other health facilities. He also said that the agency was ensuring the availability of rapid diagnostic tests in primary health facilities.

He added that the DOH was initiating fogging and screening in areas where dengue cases increased for two consecutive weeks.

Preventing dengue

Currently, there is still no specific treatment for dengue. The best way to prevent getting infected with the virus is to avoid mosquito bites, especially during the day.

The DOH has also refuted claims that herbals, including bird's eye chili or siling labuyo, could cure dengue.

"Our experts on dengue and other infectious diseases suggest against the using tawa-tawa, bayabas, and guava, for dengue patients because there are no proven effects for the improvement or for the resolution ng mga sintomas ng [of the symptoms for] dengue," Tejano told reporters.

He advised those who show symptoms to immediately consult healthcare professionals.

The most common symptoms of dengue are high fever, severe headache, muscle and joint pains, nausea, and rashes. Some may also experience pain behind the eyes, vomiting, and swollen glands.

Symptoms start four to 10 days after exposure from a mosquito bite. DOH said that "most" of those infected will get better in one to two weeks.

Self-protection measures against dengue include wearing of long sleeves and pants that cover the skin, and using mosquito repellent lotions and sprays. — VDV, GMA Integrated News