Re-emerging diseases observed, increase in flu noted in school children

Re-emerging diseases such as Chikungunya, Malaria and whooping cough are closely observed, while an increase in influenza cases among school children is reported. 

According to Health Services Office – City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit head Dr. Donnabel Tubera-Panes, it was reported by Dep-Ed Baguio head of Health and Nutrition, Dr. Roger Sinot, Jr. that 6,596 cases of influenza in elementary and high school students were treated since September up to date. 

Upon knowing this, Mayor Benjamin Magalong gave directives for parents to check on their children, keep them from school once symptoms of Influenza are observed and inform the respective teachers.

Parents should bring their children for consultation at the nearest health facility, the mayor emphasized. 

Re-emerging diseases were also looked at closely during a media forum at city hall last week.

Alert was raised on Chikungunya, a mosquito borne disease with symptoms of fever, rash and chronic to severe joint pains. The joint pains could persist up to years, it was known. Chikungunya is slightly different from Dengue and could be detected through laboratory tests, Dr. Panes pointed out during a media forum.         

No cases have been seen yet in the city, however the city’s public transport  terminals are regularly disinfected and monitored, just so no infection-carrying mosquitos could travel from Chikungunya-infected areas. 

Whooping cough or pertussis is also supposedly eliminated and no cases were seen for 10 years, but low immunization rate is monitored. 

As for Malaria, Baguio and Benguet areas have no cases yet, but OFWs from Africa are monitored. 

Personnel from health facilities are trained and mandated to report cases. Panes reiterated. – JGF, with reports from HSO – CESU