DOH: Dengue is more deadly than AH1N1

By NINFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA Samar)
June 18, 2009

CATBALOGAN, Samar  –  Amid the AH1N1 scare that has caused panic in a Catholic school in Catbalogan, the Department of Health Samar representative Dr. Antonio Tirazona said that the people should also pay attention to dengue fever considered to be more deadly than AH1N1.

On Wednesday, in the forum about dengue attended by school teachers, school nurses representatives from national government agencies and health personnel, Tirazona said that fatality in dengue fever is 5% to 10% while it is only .6% in AH1N1.

Speakers could not help but compare the two as the discussion progressed.

Leonido Olobia, the Regional Entomologist urged the teachers to become information multipliers especially to their students. The young are almost always the victims of dengue fever.

Olobia also cited that Catbalogan contributed the second highest number of dengue cases in 2008 second to Tacloban City.

He added that of the 939 cases in 2008; 11 children died.

Olobia also mentioned that in 2007 there were some 164 dengue cases in Pambujan, Northern, Samar.

Health authorities however cited that dengue cases in the region is on the decline. The good news though should not put our guard down, they stressed.

The public is encouraged to practice four healthy habits to avoid dengue. One is to search and destroy all breeding sites (where there is water). Second is to practice self protection methods, third is to seek early consultation and fourth which they claim is important is to say no to indiscriminate fogging.

The health officer discouraged barangay officials from the latter, he added that it is important to clean and clear the breeding places more than fogging.