Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The province of Cavite started its anti-dengue campaign on Wednesday (September 23) after a state of calamity was declared last week.
The local government of Cavite had released P7.5 million for the campaign which aims to remind residents on how to prevent the spread of dengue by keeping their surroundings clean and destroying possible breeding sites for mosquitoes.
The dengue mosquito breeds in stagnant water, which can be found in old tires, water drums, flower vases and old bottles.
Gov. Junvic Remulla said they will not stop until the dengue cases are under control.
As of September 12, the Cavite Provincial Health Office recorded 3,904 cases of dengue compared to only 1,120 cases during the same period last year — a 249 percent increase.
Trece Martires recorded 398 dengue cases — the highest number of cases among the five municipalities in Cavite.
To cope with the rising number of patients, makeshift rooms were set up at the General Emilio Aguinaldo Memorial Hospital in Trece Martires. The hallway in front of the hospital’s chapel was also converted into an additional ward for dengue patients.
Cavite Provincial Health Officer Dr. George Repique said the Philippine National Red Cross has already offered help in attending to the patients.
Repique, who expects the number of cases to continually increase in the coming weeks, reminded residents that early medical intervention is also important in curing the disease.
Dengue symptoms include fever that lasts for more than 2 days, joint pains, nausea and rashes in arms and legs. In advanced stages, a patient will start vomiting blood, experience nose bleeding and presence of blood in stool.
