NEGROS OCCIDENTAL (PIA) –- As the dengue cases rose to 196 percent as of May 22 this year compared to the same period last year, the Department of Health (DOH) 6 reiterated the practice of the 4S strategy.

Search and destroy mosquito-breeding sites, Secure Self-protection measures like wearing long pants and long sleeved shirts and daily use of mosquito repellent, Seek early consultation, and Support fogging/spraying only in hotspot areas where increase in cases is registered for two consecutive weeks to prevent an impending outbreak were the DOH-institutionalized Enhanced 4S strategies against dengue.

Negros Occidental has the highest percent increase in cases followed by the province of Antique at 276 percent, Aklan at 179 percent, Iloilo City 141 percent and Bacolod City at 129 percent increase.

“We could see (from the data) that the past weeks we have already reached our alert threshold.  This means that our local government units should start their outbreak awareness and response activities,” Nataralay said.

According to her, warning signs of dengue include severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, bleeding gums and nose and blood excretion.

“If fever sets in and linger for more than two days, seek early consultation in order for the doctors to manage the case well,” Natalaray advised.

In Negros Occidental, there were already 66 barangays with clustering of cases while there were 12 barangays in Bacolod City, as of June 4.

“Both dengue and COVID-19 are both caused by viruses and these are preventable if we practice preventive measures.  We have strategies and we have to do these for prevention. Prevention is important at the community level even in respective homes,” Natalaray added. (AAL/EAD/PIA6 Negros Occidental)