City doctor warns folk on dengue and rat urine

NAGA CITY --- Aside from the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), the City Health Office (CHO) here reminded residents to be vigilant against dengue fever and leptospirosis.

Dr. Vito Borja II, City Health Office (CHO) chief, said that with the onset of the rainy season, cases of dengue fever and leptospirosis are expected to rise in the city.

Dengue fever is caused by any one of four types of dengue viruses spread by mosquitoes that thrive in and near human lodgings. In the case of leptospirosis, it is spread mainly by contact with water or soil contaminated by the urine of infected animals.

Borja urged men to always wear t-shirts to prevent mosquitos from biting the upper part of their body.

He said since January this year, the CHO has already recorded numerous cases of dengue. From January to June 2019, the Department of Health (DOH) reported over 2,000 dengue cases in the region.

Borja called on residents to clean their homes and ensure that there is no stagnant water in their surroundings.

He said that stagnant waters are favorite breeding grounds of mosquitos. He added that people should implement the 4:00 daily cleaning habit and participate in “rabus” in their barangays during Saturdays.

Meanwhile, Borja also advised residents to avoid wading in flooded areas especially if there are open wounds in the feet to avoid being infected by leptospirosis.

According to DOH, dengue cases in Bicol during the first half of this year has dropped by 45 percent from over 2,000 cases last year to 1,183 cases this year.