Monday, June 28, 2010

News update Health officials blame climate change for rise in dengue cases

BAGUIO CITY - The Center for Health Development (CHD) here revealed the serious negative of climate change, particularly the unpredictable weather patterns, is a major factor in the sudden surge in dengue fever cases in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) and in Ilocos with the outset of the rainy season.
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For the first five-and-a-half months this year, the CHD-CAR recorded a 10 percent rise in dengue fever cases in the region while the CHD Region 1 noted a 15 percent rise in dengue cases compared to the same period last year.
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Because of the expected increase in the dreaded diseases considering that it is one of the identified rainy day diseases, Dr. Myrna Cabotaje, CHD-CAR regional director, said all health units in the region have been directed to be on alert to conduct a massive information and education campaign in the grassroots level to guide the people on how to prevent the outbreak of the illness.
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According to Cabotaje, the changing weather patterns has allowed dengue-carrying mosquitoes to be resistant to the prevailing weather condition, thus, they still breed on clear and stagnant water which are stored in the surroundings of the people.
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In the Cordillera, the identified provinces on the watchlist because of the rise in its recorded cases include Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Apayao while the provinces of La Union and Ilocos Sur are still under study whether or not to be included in the list in the case of the Ilocos Region.
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The health department tasked the different local governments to help thwart the expected increase in dengue fever cases in order to avoid untimely death of people, especially young children and senior citizens, considering that most parts of the region have been included as potential dengue hot spots.
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In order to prevent the dengue-carrying and day-biting mosquitoes from rapidly multiplying, the CHD-CAR advised people to keep their surroundings clean so that the illness will not be spread to the neighborhood and eventually in the whole community.
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Aside from climate change, Cabotaje explained the rising population of the different areas in the region could also be contributory to the increasing dengue fever cases.
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However, she pointed out that dengue fever does not possess the cyclical trend where cases suddenly surge every three to five years since the same is year-round disease due to the effects of climate change.
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The CHD-CAR has already recorded five dengue-related deaths in the region with two each coming from Mountain Province and Ifugao while one was recorded in Baguio City.
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All of those who died due to dengue fever are described to be minors who previously experienced flu-like symptoms but their situation suddenly reached the advanced stages even prior to being diagnosed.
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Health authorities reminded people who are suffering from flu-like symptoms to immediately seek medical attention in the nearest health facility in order for them to be accorded proper medication before their illness gets worst.