Alternative medicines
can’t cure dengue: DOH
THE Department of Health yesterday cautioned the public against the use of alternative medicines for dengue as it said there is yet no cure for the mosquito-born disease which has now affected at least 60,000 persons.
Stories circulating in the internet tell of dengue patients being cured after taking in juice from "tawa tawa weed," camote tops, and papaya.
Dr. Eric Tayag, head of the DOH-National Epidemiology Center, said the DOH is not banning the use of herbal medicines but said these could bring only "false sense of security" and lead the public to believe there is already a cure for dengue.
"Wala pong gamot ang dengue. We can only replace the fluids na nawawala at blood na kailangan ma-transfuse. Hindi po dugo ang tawa tawa juice, camote tops juice at papaya juice," he Tayag.
Latest data show there were 62,503 dengue cases recorded from January 1 to August 21. The figure is 88.8 percent higher than the cases recorded in the same period last year at 33,102.
There are also more deaths recorded this year, 465, compared to last year’s 350 deaths.
Some 600 personnel from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority will be deployed starting today in areas in Manila and Quezon City to conduct massive clean-ups of mosquito breeding areas, and at the same time clear waterways to prevent flooding.
Quezon City barangays that have been placed under close watch by health officials are Gulod, Batasan Hills, San Bartolome, Tandang Sora, Nagkaisang Nayon, Bagong Silangan, Bagbag, Culiat, Novaliches, Payatas, Bahay Toro, Tatalon, Pasong Tamo, Bagong Pagasa and Sta. Monica.
In Manila, identified as dengue hot spots were Barangay 128 of Smokey Mountain and the whole District 1 of Tondo covering 97 barangays.
Today’s clean-up will be at Batasan Hills and Tandang Sora in Quezon City.
Under the "MMDA Lingap sa Barangay" drive, the MMDA personnel will be deployed in "alternate shifts to four Quezon City and Manila barangays per day every week from Friday to Sunday to help local officials and residents clean the roadways, markets, drainage system and other possible breeding places of mosquito carrying the dengue virus," said MMDA chair Francis Tolentino.
The Quezon City health department had recorded 1,181 cases as of August 14, with 12 deaths. This is 4.7 percent lower compared to the 1,239 cases, with 61 deaths, in the same period last year.
But the city is expecting more cases this year despite its anti-dengue campaign, because August and September are considered peak months for dengue, according to Dr. Antonieta Inumerable, chief of the QC Health Department.
Las Piñas Mayor Vergel Aguilar said he has ordered the local health office in coordination with barangay officials to organize "Larvitrap" families and conduct the "4 o’clock habit."
Lavitraps pr ovitraps are surveillance devices used to detect the presence of the mosquito infestation
Larvitrap families are homeowners in high-risk areas who install the devices and report results to the community health office. – With Ashzel Hachero
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