by ERNESTO T. SOLIDUM
Picture shows Sept 15 Kapihan Sa Aklan guest resource persons who are (l to r) Dr. Felma Dela Cruz, Dr. Cornelio Cuachon with the members of the Aklan media, Mr. Edwin Pelayo and Atty. Ronquillo C. Tolentino.
The Weekly Kapihan on Sept. 15 held at Carmen Hotel, NVC discussed, “Dengue Prevention and Control Program of PHO”. The guests are Dr. Felma R. Dela Cruz of Aklan Medical Society and Dr. Cornelio Cuachon, Provincial Health Officer I.
Atty. Ronquillo C. Tolentino said that Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever or breakbone fever is a tropical disease caused by the Dengue virus. Early description of the condition dates back in 1779. It became a global problem since World War II. It is endemic in more than 110 countries infecting 50-100 million people yearly. Based on ABS-CBN report, there are 95,142 dengue patients (in the Philippines) from January to September 2012 or an increase of 13.0 percent compared to the same period in 2011 of 84,244 cases. Deaths now reach 549 compared to 436 last year. There is urgent need for community awareness and effective prevention and control program against the disease, the former Vice Governor pointed out.
Dr. Cuachon disclosed that based on Integrated Disease Surveillance report of Department of Health–Provincial Health Office (DOH–PHO), dengue incidence at Regional level from January to August 2012 were 7,000 cases with 64 deaths. In Aklan during the same period, the total dengue cases is 621.
Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pains and a characteristic skin rash that is similar to measles. In a small proportion of cases, the disease develop into the life threatening dengue hemorrhagic fever resulting to bleeding, low level of blood platelets and blood plasma leakage or into dengue shock syndrome where dangerously low blood pressure occurs.
Dengue is transmitted by Aedes aegypti or tiger mosquito. The virus has four different types which are Dengue 1, 2, 3 and 4. They are day biting mosquitoes and breed in and around the house, junk tires, flower vases, empty drums and tree holes.
Other dengue carrying mosquito is Aedes albofectus. Its incubation period in the person is five days. Adult survives up to 10 days but under favorable condition is three weeks. Virus attacks lymph nodes and white blood cells. Children 10 years and below are most at risk. An estimated 2.5 percent of the cases will be fatal, averred Dr. Cuachon.
Dr. Dela Cruz recommends supportive treatment of Dengue using either oral or intravenous rehydration for mild and moderate cases; for severe ones, administer blood transfusion. Low platelet count induces bleeding in patients hence must be replenished. Unfortunately, blood platelet packs is available only in Roxas City or Iloilo City.
It is advisable that early medical treatment should be made two days after onset of known Dengue symptoms especially high fever accompanied by rashes, said the Lady Physician.
Deadly mosquito carriers of Dengue and Malaria are only the female species. The males are harmless, feeding on nectar and plant juices. They become disease carriers only after they come into contact with an infected person. Pest management could be done by any plant entomologists. The obvious reason why DOH has a hard time in preventing the spread of mosquitoes is that their technical personnel is not properly trained to eradicate mosquitoes.
How Do We Manage Pests?
Well, integrated pest control is the name of the game. The use of pheromones or love potion as baits laced with insecticides can be effective against male mosquitoes. Males could be subjected to low levels of atomic radiation to sterilize them. Predators like dragon flies, damsel flies, frogs, bats, lizards and geckos could be encouraged to multiply for biological control. The planting of lemon grass (tangead) and neem tree around the house repels a wide variety of insect pests. The breeding places of mosquitoes must be eliminated or installed with larvicidal traps developed by Department of Science and Technology.
The use of mosquito nets especially those treated with residual insecticides could be one of the best options if window screening is not available. The best ones are made of cotton or sinamay cloth which are absorbent. Since Aklan is the leading producer of abaca and sinamay cloth, this could be good cottage industry if promoted by Department of Trade and Industry and DOH.
With biological and physical measures in place, the last option is to use chemical control like fogging with potent insecticides.
Dengue epidemic is a fast growing health risk. Mosquitoes are known to infest farm animals like poultry (comb and wattles) and livestock – carabao, swine, and goats although at lesser degree.
Dengue prevention and control is complicated because of climate change and overcrowded population centers. It is unfortunate that youngsters are very vulnerable while authorities have yet to develop a potent low cost vaccine against the disease. Pest prevention should be a community effort since doing it alone is futile. Recalcitrant households become pockets or spawning ground for the pest to multiply. This is where civic organizations come in to educate and inform the people to follow simple preventive measures. The rational option is to engage the help of experts or technicians to do the dirty job of eliminating disease carrier so DOH-PHO confines themselves to medical services. /MP
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