DOH wants dengue express lanes reactivated

Health officials are now seriously considering reactivating dengue express lanes in government hospitals after noting the continued rise in dengue cases in Metro Manila. Radio dzBB reported Monday that the Department of Health (DOH) had noted a marked rise in dengue cases particularly in the cities of Manila and Caloocan. It noted a three-fold increase in dengue cases in the two areas, noting a 600-plus increase in cases so far in San Lazaro Hospital in Manila. San Lazaro Hospital registered 200 cases in the same period in 2007, the Health department noted. Earlier this month, the Health Department launched a war room against dengue, allotting P2.5 million for the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine to buy medicines to help doctors detect the dengue virus. Health authorities had branded dengue as a year-round threat and have urged residents to keep their surroundings clean and dry to prevent dengue-carrying mosquitoes from breeding. They also discouraged local government officials against indiscriminate fogging operations, which will only drive away mosquitoes to a new area. - GMANews.TV