Dengue Alert

ILOILO CITY—The city government has expressed alarm over the increasing number of dengue fever fatalities from January to June 22 this year.

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas told reporters on Monday that the city health office had recorded 11 deaths from dengue fever during the period although there were no deaths from the disease from January to May 2008.

Iloilo City Health Officer Dr. Urminico Baronda said dengue cases already reached over 80, from January to June 22 this year, up from only 40 for the period January to May 2008.

“We are worried because of the increasing number of deaths. We have to really work double time. Our efforts are still wanting. We have to inform and educate our constituents,” Treñas said.

The city government will tap the services of some non-government organization, like the business sector, churches and the schools, for a multi-sectoral approach to the information drive to convince residents to observe preventive measures to stop the spread of the disease.

The city government also has leaflets on dengue fever awareness for dissemination as well as radio and television advocacies aired since March.

At the same time, the city government has encouraged residents to search and destroy breeding places of mosquitoes, to wear proper clothing for self-protection, to bring suspected dengue fever patients to the doctor and to refuse indiscriminate fogging. /Inquirer