MANILA – The Department of Health (DOH) announced on Monday that it is providing assistance to nine local government units (LGUs) across Calabarzon, Central Luzon, and the National Capital Region (NCR), where dengue cases have sharply increased.

In a radio interview, DOH spokesperson Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo revealed that Quezon City is one of the Metro Manila LGUs experiencing a surge in dengue cases.

On Saturday, the Quezon City government declared a dengue outbreak after reporting 1,769 cases from January 1 to February 14, nearly 200 percent higher than the same period in 2024.

The outbreak has led to at least 10 deaths, eight of whom were minors.

Nationwide, the DOH reported 28,234 dengue cases from January 1 to February 1, marking a 40-percent increase compared to the same period in 2024.

“What’s different this time is the early onset of rains. This is not the usual rainy season; it’s the shear line, the ITCZ [intertropical convergence zone], and easterlies causing more rainfall, leading to stagnant water where mosquitoes breed,” Domingo explained.

He noted that climate change has altered the behavior of mosquitoes that transmit the dengue virus.

To prevent further spread, Domingo urged the public to wear protective clothing, use mosquito repellent, and eliminate mosquito breeding sites.

One of the primary symptoms of dengue is a high-grade fever, ranging from 39 to 40°C, which appears 4 to 10 days after a mosquito bite.

Domingo advised, “Sometimes, we need to be extra cautious when the fever subsides after four or five days. The pattern of dengue fever involves a spike in temperature, followed by a sharp drop.”

He also emphasized the importance of recognizing advanced symptoms after the fever has passed, such as gum bleeding, rashes, and changes in stool color, which indicate internal bleeding.

The DOH Centers for Health Development, through their respective Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Units (RESU), continue to provide guidance to LGUs regarding dengue control measures.

The DOH clarified that the declaration of a local dengue outbreak is an action taken by LGU officials in accordance with legal requirements.

“The declaration of an outbreak does not mean a disaster. It simply indicates that the number of cases has exceeded what is typically expected for that period of the year,” Domingo said.

ia/mnm

By Liza Soriano

KABAYAN party-list Representative Ron Salo has proposed the immediate creation of a task force that will monitor and impose decisive action to ensure the safety and well-being of overseas Filipinos amid the war in Israel and Gaza.

This is in light of the escalating situation in Israel and Gaza and the reported capture of Filipino nationals by Hamas militants.

“With the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the risks it poses to our Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and Filipino nationals in the region, I have filed House Resolution No. 1369 urging the Executive Department to immediately create a crisis management and response task force for the assistance of our countrymen in Israel and Gaza,” the Kabayan party-list representative said.

“This task force, jointly led by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), will be mandated to closely monitor the evolving situation, ensure the safety of our Kabayans, and be fully prepared for any possible contingencies,” Salo, chairman of the committee on overseas workers affairs, added.

There are over 30,000 Filipinos in Israel as of December 2021, DFA spokesman Ma. Teresita Daza said, citing records of Israel’s Population and Immigration Authority.

“The Crisis Management and Response Task Force will work diligently to closely monitor the ongoing conflict and establish effective systems to track the whereabouts and conditions of Filipino nationals in the affected areas, providing around-the-clock updates and assistance as may be necessary,” Salo explained.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said the Philippine Embassy in Tel Aviv reported that 20 of the 26 Filipinos who were abducted and kidnapped have been rescued.

To ensure a decisive, holistic, and coordinated response of the Philippine government, the members of the task force will include pertinent agencies, including the Department of National Defense (DND), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), National Intelligence and Coordinating Agency (NICA), and our dedicated diplomatic representatives led by the Philippine Ambassador to Israel and the Labor Attaché in Israel.

The House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs, chaired by Rep.Salo, will also conduct a hearing tomorrow, 11 October 2023, at 1:30 PM on the matter.

This vital session will focus on the current situation of our overseas Filipinos in Israel amidst the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and a comprehensive briefing on the efforts by key government agencies involved in ensuring the safety and well-being of Filipinos out there.

(ai/mnm)