Avoidable deaths, unnecessary expense
Even though cases of dengue have been occurring nationwide, it seems that reporting or talking about them is not a priority concern of government or the DOH. I speculate that while cases are reportedly already several thousands in many places, the deaths have not reached “alarming” or catastrophic numbers, which is why it’s not a serious concern.
Perhaps if a relative of a congressman or senator were to die because of dengue, then maybe the problem would get the proper attention or action it deserves. As far as I am concerned, dengue had already infected my wife Karen before COVID, and at least two helpers in our small farm already got dengue that nearly killed one of them. So for me, dengue should get more mention than political squabbles.
Last Friday, I picked up a story in the Nation news section of The Philippine STAR that five persons were recently killed by the dengue virus in Benguet province. If that’s not serious enough, the report filed by Artemio Dumlao stated “that (in one week alone), from July 21 to 27, the local health department of Benguet province (which includes Baguio City) has recorded 230 cases. The figure brought to 3,396 the total dengue cases posted in Benguet so far this year.”
Imagine that – 3,396 recorded dengue cases in one province in the highlands that we now know of, only because a persistent reporter found it important to inform the public. The question is why is the Department of Health no longer reporting or updating the public on the weekly or monthly cases of dengue, considering we are in the rainy season, which is when dengue carrying mosquitoes breed like crazy.
Is it possible that the number of cases all over the country could total 50,000 or more over the last seven months? It’s hard to tell if the government itself has either stopped recording cases or publishing or sharing the numbers to better inform and protect the public.
As usual, both local and national health officials “reiterated their appeal to residents of affected areas to help in fighting dengue by ridding their area of mosquito breeding sites.” In Metro Manila, the usual reaction is to declare fogging operations, etc. I picked up somewhere that DOH officials
