By Jason de Asis

SENATE OFFICE, Manila, November 5, 2010-Senator Loren Legarda urged the Philippine government pinpointing the Department of Health (DOH) and local government units (LGUs) to prevent and control the continues surge in cases of dengue fever in Asia according to the World Health Organization (WHO) report.

Legarda said that the rise of dengue cases in Asia particular in the Philippines is alarming and the government should be aware to combat the disease which is scattered already in different places, adding that the infection is spreading faster and wider and it affects more people especially the children.

The WHO reported that 70% of the estimated 2.5 billion people who are at risk of dengue in Asia Pacific countries including the Philippines which is one of the affected nations, citing that from January to October 9, 2010, there were 110,235 reported cases of dengue in the Philippines and last year, there were 57,819 reported cases.

The major factors in the surge of dengue cases are higher temperatures and rainfall in many parts of the region where the WHO reported that the climatic changes play an important role in the nature of mosquitoes however global warming is not yet considered as factor in the increase of the case.

Early detection and medication are important since there is no treatment and vaccine for dengue case wherein the Senator said that we must put extra effort for the prevention and control of the disease.

She urged the DOH to strengthen the government program in fighting the dengue fever. Massive information campaign is important in order to avoid the disease, adding that the LGUs have a great role to help eliminate the breeding places of mosquitoes by cleaning their surroundings and proper water storage. (Jason de Asis)