Health officials assured the public during the Department of Health’s press conference at Rakdell Inn last week that there is no dengue outbreak in Catanduanes despite the fact that a total of 291 cases have been recorded here from Jan. 1 to Mar. 5, 2025,
The dengue cases were reportedly from Bagamanoc (51), Baras (22), Bato (32), Caramoran (4), Gigmoto (12), Pandan (14), Panganiban (10), San Andres (16), San Miguel (10), Viga (32) and Virac (88).
Although the numbers may seem large enough, Engr. Leo Armand Gapaz of the Provincial Health Office clarified that there is no clustering of cases in Virac as the cases are scattered in several barangays.
The previous clustering worth noting was during the first week of January in Antipolo and Bagatabao in Bagamanoc.
The PHO immediately provided appropriate interventions, including chemicals and spray machines, and advised local officials to conduct environmental sanitation to get rid of mosquito breeding places.
For his part, Entomologist II John Dominic Bolunia, who is the Regional Program Manager of the DOH V Environmental Health Program, said, however, that dengue cases are on the rise nationwide.
Although dengue is potentially lethal due to complications, he advised that early clinical diagnosis and careful management by experienced physicians and nurses would save lives.
A flu-like illness that affects infants, young children and adults, the symptoms appear within 3-14 days after one is bitten by a female Aedes aegypti mosquito carrying the virus.
The carrier mosquito usually bites during the day, with the peak at 1-2 hours after sunrise and 1-2 hours before sunset, Bolunia said.
From the usual symptoms of fever, dizziness and nausea, body pain and rashes, the sickness could turn serious if not properly treated.
The signs of serious dengue infection, the DOH official stated, are stomach pain, vomiting, bleeding in the gums and nose, vomiting of blood, blood in feces, and bodily weakness,.
These symptoms usually appear once the fever leaves the patient and should warn the family that the sick loved one urgently needs medical attention.
This situation could be avoided if the public practices 4S: Search and Destroy mosquito breeding places, keep surrounding areas clean, and cover water containers; Self-Protection measures like the use of mosquito nets or repellants; Seek Early Consultation in case of symptoms; and Support Fogging in outbreak areas or where clustering has been observed and where the mosquito population exceed the vector threshold.
Environmental sanitation remains the most effective, cheapest and safest intervention to prevent and control dengue, Bolunia emphasized.
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This issue ran out of space so the articles about the DOH presscon could not be accommodated this week.
The other topics discussed during the event were Road Safety Awareness, Environmental Health, and the Philippine Multi-Sectoral Nutrition Project (PMNP) of which Catanduanes is a project site.
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The Catanduanes Tribune will be celebrating its Founding Anniversary this March 26, 2025, 44 years after Fred T. Gianan Sr. started publishing the paper after the lifting of Martial Law in 1981.
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THE BAD NEWS. Ever since he graduated from high school, Brian spent most of his waking hours lounging on the couch, watching sports programs, and drinking beer. One day, as he reached for another can, he tumbled off the sofa onto his head and had to be rushed to the hospital. After X-rays were taken, the doctor went right to Brian’s bedside.
“I’m sorry, but I have some bad news for you, young man. Your X-rays show that you’ve broken a vertebra in your neck. I’m afraid you’ll never work again.”
“Thanks, doc. Now what’s the bad news?”