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Health chief Ona fears ASEAN dengue outbreak
MANILA, Philippines—Health officials fear an outbreak of dengue fever could spread throughout Southeast Asia because of the rising number of cases of the mosquito-borne virus in the Philippines and its neighbors.
“Dengue is not only in the Philippines, but in the whole ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) region,” said Health Secretary Enrique Ona.
Cambodia, he noted, recorded a high incidence of dengue.
Dengue fever is transmitted by mosquitoes. Its symptoms include fever, headache, joint pains, rashes and swollen glands.
The National Epidemiology Center (NEC) reported 29,393 dengue cases and 228 deaths in the country from Jan. 1 to July 10.
Health officials said the number of dengue cases could reach 70,000 cases in 2010.
Dr. Eric Tayag, NEC director, said health experts observed similarities in the situation this year and in 1998, when the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a dengue outbreak in Southeast Asia. Twelve years ago, the WHO recorded 350,000 cases of dengue and nearly 1,500 deaths in the region.
Tayag said that El Niño phenomenon, which led to droughts and prompted people to store water, was connected to the dengue outbreak.
He noted that 1998 was an El Niño year.
Source
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