Dengue, typhoid cases up due to global warming

MANILA, Philippines - The number of dengue fever, typhoid fever, and cholera cases in the country in 2008 rose due to the effects of global warming, Health Secretary Francisco Duque said Friday. In an interview over radio dzBB, Duque said the effects of global warming were becoming evident in the type of diseases that spread across the country over the past year. "Mukhang yun ang lumalabas ayon sa aming mga datos, at bunsod na rin ito ng global warming (That's what our data indicate, and this is brought about by global warming)," Duque said when asked whether there was a rise in the number of cases of such diseases. "Ang mga banta ng global warming ay nagiging totoo at nasasalamin ito sa mga epidemya na di natin inaasahan mangyari pero nangyari na (The threats of global warming are happening, and this is evident in the epidemics that we did not expect but have occurred)," he added. Duque said local governments should work to fight the spread of diseases by improving infrastructure environments and providing safe, clean potable water. He also assured that the DOH is working to improve health services in the country, such as ensuring the implementation of the Cheaper Medicines Act in the coming year and upgrading equipment and services in hospitals. A few months ago, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that global warming will contribute to the rise in dengue and malaria cases in the Philippines and their spread to other countries in the Asia Pacific Region. "Global warming would expand the range of mosquitos that carry malaria and dengue to areas other than their natural South-East Asia habitat," said Dr. Shegiru Omi, outgoing regional director of WHO Western Pacific region in September. The possible increase in the cases of such diseases call for a need to strengthen health systems through health care financing and building up human resources to combat the effects of climate change, Omi added. - GMANews.TV