IPHO North Cotabato seeks public support vs. dengue

COTABATO CITY -- The Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) of North Cotabato is asking the public to help curb the rising cases of dengue in the area.

North Cotabato provincial health chief Dr. Eva Rabaya made the appeal on Friday after their office listed 10 deaths due to dengue with 2,832 dengue cases across the province as of June 21 this year.

In comparison, Rabaya said North Cotabato only listed 911 dengue cases with five deaths from January to June 21 in 2018.

“The10 fatalities were from Alamada, Carmen, Antipas, Libungan, Kidapawan City, Matalam, Midsayap, and Makilala,” Rabaya said during a radio interview here.

Rabaya said continuous information drive should accompany regular forums aimed at educating the public on how to prevent contracting dengue.

Dengue is a preventable disease and the public’s cooperation is necessary to ensure the successful campaign against the deadly mosquito-borne disease, she said.

She added that fogging operation is the last option in areas where there are high number of cases, adding that regular cleanup of surroundings remains the most effective way to destroy mosquito breeding sites.

Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral disease that has rapidly spread in all regions of WHO in recent years. 

Dengue virus is transmitted by female mosquitoes mainly of the species Aedes aegypti and, to a lesser extents. This mosquito also transmits chikungunya, yellow fever and Zika infection, the WHO said.