SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union (PIA) — The Department of Health, through the Provincial Health Office-La Union, is urging the public to actively participate in dengue prevention and control efforts to curb the disease’s spread in the province.
Dr. Ivy Ico, DOH-La Union Provincial Health Team leader, reported that according to the latest morbidity report of the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit of the DOH-Ilocos Center for Health Development, dengue cases more than doubled from Jan. 1 to Feb. 15, 2024, registering 884 cases this year compared with 441 cases during the same period last year.
The report showed that Pangasinan recorded the highest number of dengue cases in the region this year, with 447 cases, followed by La Union with 176, Ilocos Sur with 134, Ilocos Norte with 71, and Dagupan City with 56.
The numbers show an increase across all four provinces compared with the same period last year, with Pangasinan registering 280 cases, La Union with 57, Ilocos Sur with 46 and Ilocos Norte with 31 from Jan. 1 to Feb. 15, 2023.
Dagupan City recorded 27 cases during the same period.
Also, the region has recorded six deaths from the total number of confirmed cases this year.
“As the number of dengue cases increases nationwide, as well as in our province, we would like to sustain the campaign and involve every resident of La Union in our plight to stop dengue spread,” Ico said.
The call for public participation follows the recent nationwide search-and-destroy mosquito breeding sites kickoff event.
The campaign, dubbed “Alas Kwatro Kontra Mosquito,” urges public and private partners to form two groups responsible for cleaning mosquito breeding sites and drying water containers to prevent the spread of the disease.
So far, two simultaneous cleanup drives have been conducted in La Union, with 16 local governments participating in these activities.
Meanwhile, all 20 local government units in La Union joined the DOH’s cleanup drive on Feb. 28.
To help fight dengue at home, the DOH encourages residents to regularly clean and cover water containers, properly dispose of garbage to avoid water buildup, use screens on windows and doors and apply mosquito repellent.
The public is also advised to seek medical attention early if they experience symptoms like high fever, headaches, joint pains or skin rashes. (AMB/CCMT, PIA La Union)
