Negros Occidental Gov. Isidro Zayco yesterday directed Provincial Health Officer Luisa Efren to take precautionary measures against dengue and other diseases brought on by the onset of the rainy season, especially with the opening of classes.

He asked Efren to furnish his office with a report on precautionary measures undertaken by the PHO.

“We must take preventive measures to protect the public,” Zayco said.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health, in an advisory, said diseases that may come with the rainy season aside from dengue are influenza, leptospirosis and water-borne diseases like diarrhea.

To win the battle against dengue, the DOH has advised the public to continue following the 4-S campaign of the DOH, which is to search and destroy possible breeding grounds of dengue-carrying mosquitoes like old tires, broken vases and bottle caps; wear long sleeve shirts and pants for self-protection; seek health professionals for fever that is already two days or more; and say no to indiscriminate fogging.

Influenza is very common during the rainy season because this is the period where the climate changes from hot and humid to cold and rainy, people who get caught in heavy rains can catch the disease, the DOH advisory also said.

The DOH said that once a person catches influenza, he could easily infect others through coughing, talking and sneezing. To prevent from spreading the flu, they said that a sick person should cover his/her mouth and nose when sneezing and coughing, the DOH advisory said.

To avoid getting influenza, stay away from crowded places or distance yourself from people who are coughing or you suspect to be sick with influenza, the DOH said.

The DOH said that another usual rainy season disease is leptospirosis. It is an illness that a person who has leg or feet wounds can get through wading in floodwaters, mud and vegetation contaminated with the urine of infected animals, especially rats.

To avoid contracting it, the public must refrain from swimming or wading in potentially contaminated water or floodwaters and must use proper protection like boots and gloves when work requires exposure to contaminated water, the DOH said.

Signs and symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pain and reddish eyes. Early consultation is advised when symptoms set in, the DOH advisory said.

The DOH also warned against water-borne diseases such as cholera, diarrhea, hepatitis A and typhoid fever.

To avoid these illnesses, the DOH advises the public to drink only safe and clean water.

Boil your drinking water, if you must. Keep food away from insects and rats by covering it. Wash and cook food properly. Use toilet properly and clean it regularly. Keep surroundings clean to prevent flies and other insects and rodents from breeding. And most importantly, wash hands with soap and clean water after using the toilet and before eating, the DOH said.*CPG

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