Dengue alert

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor CHERYL CRUZ Desk Editor PATRICK PANGILINAN Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

With provincial health statistics on Dengue fever cases shooting up by 717 percent, going to 2,511 cases from 307 cases for the same period last year; there is no denying that we are facing a serious problem that demands immediate action from both the government and the public.

The deadly mosquito-borne virus has already killed ten people in Negros Occidental with Talisay City and Murcia town registering two fatalities each, and one each in Victorias, Silay, Bago, Himamaylan and Sagay cities and the town of Calatrava. It has taken five lives, so far, in Bacolod City and hospital rooms and beds all over the province are fast becoming scarce because of the Dengue scare.

Schools and City Health Offices have stepped up their respective campaigns against the outbreak, informing students and residents of the dangers and symptoms of Dengue, destroying mosquito breeding areas and conducting bloodletting activities to ensure that the province has adequate blood supply to meet the needs of Dengue patients, but if we are to prevent more infections and further deaths, everyone in the province will have to pitch in.

We can do that by making our homes and backyards inhabitable for mosquitoes and, through constant vigilance, especially when our loved ones display symptoms of Dengue, which include fever with severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, and rashes. If every Negrense can eliminate innocent-looking mosquito breeding grounds such as puddles, water containers, and any form of stagnant water in their homes and places of work, we should be able to stop the continued spread of Dengue fever within a few weeks. Monitoring our loved ones for any of the symptoms and seeking medical attention as soon as possible will also be necessary, as early clinical diagnosis followed by careful clinical management by experienced physicians and nurses should increase the chances of survival of Dengue-stricken patients.

We cannot expect government to beat Dengue without our help. Let us first extend our cooperation in ridding our communities of this threat before demanding that our public officials do a better job at preventing another Dengue outbreak once the rainy season begins anew.*