Aklan PHO on alert over possible surge of dengue cases as full face-to-face classes in schools start by August

KALIBO, Aklan- The Aklan Provincial Health Office (PHO-Aklan) is now on alert and is preparing possible measures that would keep school children away from dengue by August.

In a press conference here Tuesday noon, Dr. DCornelio Cuachon Jr. of the PHO-Aklan said that they are expecting coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd) soon for the holding of the Brigada Eskuwela.

“Normally, we support the Brigada Eskuwela by helping to clean public schools in order to eradicate water-borne diseases such as dengue. In our experience, there is a spike of dengue in the province every three years. We expect a dengue surge this year,” he said.

Roger Debuque, the provincial dengue coordinator of the PHO said that from January 1 to June 20 this year we have recorded 112 cases with two deaths. “Already, there are two clustering of dengue cases in Motag, Malay and in Nabas towns. We will also soon coordinate with the local government for possible interventions to prevent the spread of dengue,” Debuque said.

Debuque also said that they are prepared to give schools safety nets for classrooms to prevent mosquitoes from entering classrooms.

Based on the records of PHO, the province only recorded 55 dengue cases in the whole year of 2021. In 2019, the Aklan province recorded more than 5,000 dengue cases and several deaths.

In February this year, the DepEd allowed the implementation of face to face classes to 86 public schools in Aklan province.

Debuque said there are still no significant trends yet on the implementation of face-to-face classes among school children that has been affected by dengue, but it is better to be ready for a possibility of dengue surge in the coming weeks.