Why public should beware of dengue

Cases of dengue are on the rise again, with the Department of Health (DOH) expressing concern about the upsurge in nine local government units, including one that has already declared an outbreak of the viral disease.

The dengue virus is transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes and is common in countries with tropical climates like the Philippines.

The virus has four distinct but closely related serotypes, namely: DENV1, DENV2, DENV3, and DENV4. This means a person may get infected with dengue four times with each serotype.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), people who get infected for the second time by a different serotype are at higher risk of developing severe dengue.

“Infection with one serotype provides long-term immunity to the same serotype and only transient immunity to the other serotypes, after which secondary infections with a different serotype increase the risk for severe dengue,” the WHO said.

Most people who get dengue have mild or no symptoms at all, and will get better after one or two weeks. However, severe dengue can be fatal, and those who get this have to be treated in a hospital.

While severe dengue can lead to death, another reason why dengue should not be taken lightly is because there is no specific treatment yet for it.

The Department of Health (DOH) said that dengue is currently being treated for its symptoms, often with pain medicine.

“Wala pong gamot laban sa dengue, ngunit ang mga sintomas tulad ng panghihina at tulad ng lagnat ay nabibigyan ng lunas sa tamang paraan sa ospital kung kinakailangan. Puwede nating maiwasan ng pagkamatay basta tayo'y sumangguni nang maaga,” DOH spokesperson Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo told health reporters.

(There is no cure for dengue, but symptoms such as weakness and fever can be treated in hospitals, if necessary. We can avoid death if we consult early.)

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

These symptoms, the DOH said, start four to 10 days after exposure from a mosquito bite, and can last for two to seven days.

So far, Quezon City has declared a dengue outbreak this year amid a steep rise in cases and at least 10 deaths in the area.

However, the DOH said that eight more areas located in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon may announce a dengue outbreak soon amid the rise of cases in recent weeks.

A total of 28,234 dengue cases were recorded in the country from January 1 to February 1, translating to a whopping 40% increase from the same period last year.

Climate change

Domingo admitted that this uptrend is “unusual” early in the year.

“Kakaiba ang nakita ngayon ng Department of Health na pagtaas ng bilang ng mga kaso ng dengue. Pangkaraniwan dapat mga bandang June na onwards palang kung kailan tag-ulan ang pagtaas,” the Health official said. 

(The Department of Health has observed an unusual increase in the number of dengue cases. Normally, dengue cases increase from June onwards when it's the rainy season.)

He explained that climate change has become a factor for the rising cases of dengue.

“Nagkakaroon tayo ng mga Intertropical Convergence Zone, ng mga easterlies, ng mga shear line na nagdadala ng sobrang dami ng ulan. ‘Yun po ang problema, ‘yung tubig. At kung saan may tubig na naiiipon at pwedeng itlugan ng lamok, nagkakaroon ng kiti-kiti, ‘yan ang paggagalingan ng dengue,” he added.

(We're experiencing Intertropical Convergence Zones, easterlies, and shear lines that bring so much rain. The problem is the water. Where there is stagnant water, the mosquitos will breed. This is where dengue comes from.)

What can we do?

As part of self preventive measures, people can protect themselves from dengue simply by avoiding mosquito bites. This can be done through wearing of long sleeves and pants that cover the skin, or applying mosquito repellent lotions and sprays.

In the community, local government units are also called on to spearhead clean-up drives to destroy mosquito breeding grounds. Fogging or spraying should also be done to kill mosquitos.

Early consultation when experiencing symptoms are also highly recommended, especially for children. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News