DOH Says It’s Okay to Store Water, But Asks the Public to Cover the Containers Properly

The Department of Health (DOH) is advising the public to ensure that the water they will store in anticipation of the serious threat of “El Niño” phenomenon will not be a breeding ground of the dengue-causing mosquitoes.

“Dengue cases may spike if the concerned households will not collect and store water properly for their daily use,” said DOH spokesperson Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy.

According to him, while the DOH does not want to earn the reputation of being insensitive to the people who want to store water because of the anticipated problem, there is a need to remind them about the proper storage of water.

Dr. Lee-Suy said the public should properly cover the water containers such as drums, tanks or pails so that these will not become breeding sites for mosquitoes that can threaten the public health and produce another problem.

He explained that uncovered water containers can attract mosquitoes to lay their eggs on them and which when hatched can spread around the community and bite people which will lead to increase in dengue cases.

The DOH spokesperson has repeatedly said that whether during rainy or sunny season, the public should remain alert and guard against the possible breeding sites of mosquitoes.

Based on DOH records, the number of dengue cases in the country has reached a total of 55,079 since Jan. 1 to Aug. 8, this year.

This number was 9.15 percent higher compared to the cases recorded during the same period last year.

Aside from reminding the people on proper water storage, the DOH is also urging them and the local government units (LGUs) to always engage in clean-up campaigns.

Since the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which carries the dengue virus, breeds in clear, stagnant water accumulated in cans, old tires, flower vases, pots, pails and other containers, it is important that such areas are kept clean in homes, schools and workplaces.

The principal symptoms of dengue fever are: high fever, severe headache, severe pain behind the eyes, joint, muscle and bone pain, rash, mild bleeding (e.g., nose or gums bleed, easy bruising).

If an individual suffers high fever for a period of two days, the DOH is advising him or her to immediately go to the nearest health center or hospital for the necessary health check-up and immediate treatment.

Dengue-causing mosquitoes do not select whom they will bite and anyone — young and old, male and female, rich and poor — can be a victim.

At present, an experimental vaccine against dengue fever being developed by Sanofi has proven about 60 percent effective in its second large clinical trial.

The results could clear the way for the introduction of the world’s first inoculation against the disease, which is mosquito-borne and becoming an increasing threat worldwide. (PNA) SCS/LSJ