Local health authorities disclosed that the surges in dengue fever and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in the city will compromise the local health care system and stress the frontliners that will worsen the prevailing situation which should not be the case.
Engr. Charles Bryan Carame, head of the City Health Services office’s sanitation division, stated that in most cases, dengue fever infects the young population while COVID-19 usually infects the older population, thus, when there will be simultaneous surges in cases of both illnesses, then it will be a bigger problem for concerned government agencies and the local government to contain the said situation.
However, he claimed that such extraordinary situation could be avoided once residents will continue to adhere to the implementation of the minimum health protocols to contain the spread of dengue and the traditional 4s against dengue fever.
Based on the data obtained from the CHSO, there were 416 dengue fever cases that were recorded in the city from January 1 to July 22 this year which is over 300 percent more than the 103 cases that were reported during the same period last year.
He emphasized that fogging should remain as the last option in getting rid of the dengue carrying mosquitoes once they are able to effectively and efficiently destroy the breeding ground of the same inside and outside their houses.
(Dexter A. See, photo courtesy by Joseph Manzano, RPN DZBS Baguio OIC)