Dengue spreads to 16 Antique municipalities

ANTIQUE – Of this province’s 18 municipalities, only two remain free from dengue as of May 14 – Caluya and Libertad, data from the Antique Provincial Health Office (APHO) showed.

Since Jan. 1 of this year, Antique recorded 313 dengue cases with three deaths. These were from the following towns:

* Sibalom (80 cases with one death) * San Jose (54) * Bugasong (43 cases with one death)

* Hamtic (38 cases with one death) * Anini-y (30) * San Remigio (17) * Patnongon (11) * Barbaza (eight) * Laua-an (seven) * Sebaste (six) * Tibiao (five) * Tobias Fornier (five) * Valderrama (four) * Belison (two) * Pandan (two) * Culasi (one) Dengue i s a mosquitoborne viral infection causing a severe flu-like illness that could sometimes be fatal.

Its carriers are day- biting mosquitoes (Aedes albpictus and Aedes aegypti) that live and breed and clean, stagnant water.

Gov. Rhodora Cadiao urged Antiqueños to practice the 4S strategy against dengue – “search and destroy” mosquito breeding places; “self-protection” from mosquito bites; “seek early consultation” when signs and symptoms of dengue occur; and “say yes to fogging” only as the last resort.

According to the World Health Organization, individuals should suspect dengue when a high fever (40 degrees centigrade) is accompanied by two of the following symptoms: severe headache, pain behind the eyes, nausea / vomiting, swollen glands, muscle and joint pains, and rashes.

For severe dengue, the warning signs to look out for are: severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, rapid breathing, bleeding gums, blood in vomit, fatigue, and restlessness.

“Sa pagsaka kang kaso ka dengue, ginapangabay namon nga umpisahan natun ang 4S strategy ilabi na gid sa kadya nga panahon kang tigururan. Tandaan nga sa mga kamot natun nakasalalay ang paglikaw kag pagkontrol ka pag- duro kang l amok nga nagadara kang virus sa atun palibot,”