MikeLigalig.com

Sheryll Mundo
abs-cbnnews.com

The Department of Health (DOH) on Wednesday renewed an alert to the public on the spread of dengue as it recorded more than 4,000 cases of the mosquito-borne disease in the second week of September, ABS-CBN News reported.

The report said DOH has recorded 24,689 dengue cases since January which was 3% higher than last year’s 23,914. It added that there have been 283 fatalities this year. On Sept 8, 19,834 cases had already been recorded.

Dr. Eric Tayag, officer-in-charge of the National Epidemiology Center of DOH, said that they expected the rise in dengue cases during the September-October period. He said it is during this period that mosquitoes carrying dengue virus proliferate.

Tayag reminded the public to be on the lookout for symptoms of fever even as he explained that the dengue virus has mutated into a more virulent form.

He said dengue usually has four stages: first is fever and some muscle pains; second is fever with nose-bleeding; and third and fourth stages, which he said are the most dangerous phases, when a patient goes into "dengue shock" showing rapid decrease in blood pressure and water filling up the lungs.

Tayag clarified however that dengue now has four strains and that there are cases that upon contraction of the virus a patient may go directly into stage four.

The health officer reminded the public to immediately have a patient checked if symptoms of fever come up even for one day and especially if the area has been declared a "dengue hot spot."

He said that hospitals are already equipped to conduct tests and properly diagnose and treat dengue cases.

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