DOH monitors 'small outbreak' of dengue in Albay

The Department of Health confirmed Thursday a "small outbreak" of dengue in Albay province in the Bicol Region, even as it said there have been no fatalities so far. Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral declined to give further details of the outbreak but said they have intensified their monitoring of the disease. "We are monitoring Bicol and have observed a small outbreak of dengue in Albay. But I must point out dengue is endemic to the entire country, and is a year-round threat," Cabral said in Filipino in an interview on dzXL radio. She added health authorities in Albay are now urging communities to keep their surroundings clean and dry to prevent dengue-carrying mosquitoes from breeding. Cabral warned local residents in the dengue-affected areas that if they are not careful, the disease may prove deadly. "So far sa Bicol walang reported deaths due to the small outbreak [pero] may namamatay pag masyadong seryoso ang pagkakapit nito sa atin (So far in Bicol, there have been no reported deaths due to the small outbreak but if the situation becomes serious, there will be some deaths)," she said. Last week, Cabral warned the first of two peak seasons for dengue has set in, and called on the public to take precautions against the killer disease. She said the risk of getting dengue is high usually in January and in July. "May two parts of the year may peak tayo. Ito ang January and then July and August nagpe-peak uli (We have two peak seasons for dengue during the year. The first is during January, and the second peak is during the period between July and August)," Cabral said in an interview on dwIZ radio earlier. "Kailangan mag-ingat, malinis ang kapaligiran. Ang stagnant water kailangan itapon para hindi mag-breed ang mosquitoes doon (People should keep their surroundings clean, and throw out stagnant water lest mosquitoes breed there)," she added. - RSJ, GMANews.TV