AKLAN (PIA) –- While there is a slight decrease in the number of dengue cases, the Aklan Provincial Health Office will continue pushing the adoption of the 5S strategy to fight the disease.
Based on the latest report of PHO-Aklan, dengue cases in the province reached 272 cases from January 1 to March 22 this year.
Aklan Provincial Epidemiology Surveillance and Response Unit In-charge Roger Debuque said that their weekly monitoring of the disease suggests a continuous surge of cases of dengue, recording at least 15 to 20 cases each week.
The municipality of Ibajay reported the highest number of cases with 72, followed by Kalibo with 33 cases, and Nabas and Malay with 32 cases each.
“We are now intensifying the monitoring and prevention of dengue cases not only in the province of Aklan but also in the Western Visayas.
There’s a possibility that the cases will be increasing,” said Debuque, adding that the province is still at the dengue outbreak status.
Debuque emphasized the focus of the prevention campaign of PHO, the 5S strategy, which is the pillar for its role in reducing the number of dengue cases.
The said strategy includes: Search and destroy, which suggests looking around the house and destroying the possible mosquito breeding sites. By disrupting the breeding sites, it can significantly reduce the population of the Aedes mosquitoes and will prevent future dengue transmissions.
Seek early consultation.
There should be an urge to seek medical attention if there’s a suspicion of symptoms of dengue within the family.
Early diagnosis through the NS1 test or the antigen test will ensure proper treatment and the severity of the disease.
Self-protection, which requires individuals to wear long sleeves and pants and sleep under the mosquito nets if the house isn’t covered in screens to avoid the bites.
These simple actions can help to reduce the risk of infection.
Support fogging and spraying.
Trained personnel will conduct the process in the area that there is an impending outbreak or when there is a clustering of cases, indicated by the “red spots,” when the cases persist over five weeks.
Sustain hydration, recommends drinking 8-10 glasses of water to support the body’s recovery especially if you have a fever and suspect you have the dengue disease.
Further, PHO issued a memo activating the dengue fast lane, prioritizing patients with dengue cases.
Hospitals and LGUs are being supplied with necessary logistics such as mosquito nets, insecticides, larvicides, and other chemicals used in spraying in case there is an impending outbreak in the area. Dextrose and medicines were also given to government hospitals.
“We are now watching intensely. We are requiring our local government unit, like the rural health unit and the hospitals, to intensify the surveillance by reporting on time all the reports (the dengue cases) for us to give necessary responses for us to lower down the cases and to give necessary actions in areas where we can give technical assistance in case there are impending outbreaks,” he added.
PHO-Aklan also appealed to all the Disease Reporting Units in the province for timely reporting of dengue cases because updated data is essential for initiating measures needed and deploying technical assistance to the affected areas. (AGP/SQP/PIA Aklan with reports from Ally Valencia and Kenth Luces of ASU-Banga)
