MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur, June 20 (PIA) --- The Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) here urged the public to continue practicing the 4S strategies to combat the mosquito-borne viral disease, dengue.
Before dengue disease only increases during rainy season but now it is a year-round threat, thus, there is a need to reiterate the tested 4S to fight the disease, said IPHO chief Dr. Alinader Minalang.
The 4S stands for search and destroy, self protective measures, seek early consultation, and say no to indiscriminate fogging.
These strategies, he said, involve destroying all mosquito breeding sites, employing self protection measures such as wearing of long sleeves and pants and using insect repellent, and seeking early medical advise when the signs and symptoms of the disease are observed.
He said the fourth strategy is saying no to indiscriminate fogging because fogging may affect one’s health due to some chemicals. “Fogging is only advisable during an outbreak,” he added.
Minalang clarified that dengue is not transmitted from person to person, it is spread through the bite of an Aedes mosquito infected with a dengue virus.
He also explained that a person who has had dengue fever once is possible to have the fever again because dengue virus has four types. “Infection in one dengue virus does not offer immunity to the other three types,” he said.
Meanwhile, the IPHO will continue to conduct school hopping activities to build greater public awareness on the preventive measures against dengue virus.
Minalang said their information drive is anchored on the theme “Sugpuin ang Dengue: Stop, Look and Listen, Aksyon Barangay Kontra Dengue (ABKD) Pagtibayin.”
“The theme is actually relaunching the four o’clock habit, the peak biting time of dengue-carrying mosquitoes. We have to stop whatever we are doing every four o’clock to look and destroy mosquito breeding grounds,” he said.
“We also have to listen to the advice of health professionals and local officials because they are more knowledgeable on how to prevent dengue,” he added.
Minalang further said they added the "ABKD Pagtibayin" to the theme to stress that dengue prevention is a community effort.
For the period January to June, this year, a total of 65 dengue cases have been registered in the province, lower than the 229 cases recorded in the same period in 2013.
Minalang said the drop in dengue cases can be attributed to the intensified information and education campaign on dengue prevention. (APB/PIA-10)
No comments