30/09/2026
SCITECH |
๐๐ญ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐๐ค๐ฌ. ๐๐ข๐ญ๐๐ซ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฒ, ๐
๐ข๐ ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ฅ๐ฒ
๐๐ผ๐ ๐ป๐ฒ๐ด๐น๐ถ๐ด๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ผ๐๐๐ฏ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ธ
When the Province of Agusan del Sur officially declared a province-wide dengue outbreak on September 29 following a rapid surge in cases [1], it was not just a simple emergency news for the hospitals. It is grim reminder of the lapses the community has neglected.
While a health emergency declaration urgently prompts government to take action, it only mitigates what is already happening rather than preventing it beforehand. The real issue lies with how Agsurnons sees prevention as a way to combat enemies that breed outside, and worst, inside our doorsteps.
๐๐๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ค๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ค๐ช๐ฉ๐๐ง๐๐๐
Throughout the history, mosquitos โthe vectors of the Dengue virus, has been an enemy of the different civilizations. In fact, mosquitos are branded as "the most dangerous creatures on Earth" according to Illinois Department of Health [2]. Carrying various diseases such as malaria, filariasis, yellow fever, encephalitis, and dengue, mosquitoes are responsible for over 1 million deaths around the world per year [3].
The outbreak starts with how the ๐๐ฆ๐ฅ๐ฆ๐ด ๐ข๐ฆ๐จ๐บ๐ฑ๐ต๐ช, the dengue-carrying mosquito, reproduces. It begins when the female mosquitoes lay tiny black eggs along the rims of open containers right just above the water brim. These containers can be just a simple puddle, an open bottle, a pail, drums, wheels or even plants that can store small amount of water.
The eggs then hatch within 24-48 hours upon laying. If water is not present, the eggs can still survive from eight months to up to one year. Further, the presence of increased heat brough by the El Niรฑo hastens the mosquitoes' reproduction.
After the egg stage comes the larval stage where wrigglers (๐ฌ๐ช๐ต๐ช-๐ฌ๐ช๐ต๐ช) feed off on the organic materials in the water. They are usually found hanging upside-down in the surface of the water to breathe. For about five days, they molt four times before reaching the next stage.
The wriggler then undergoes the pupal stage which usually last from two to three days. In this stage, the pupa becomes dormant, while undergoing drastic body changes to become an adult mosquito.
The adult mosquito then emerges from the pupa, and flies away after its body hardens.
๐๐๐ ๐๐ก๐ค๐ค๐๐ฎ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ
As the adult mosquito grows, it undergoes it's reproductive stage where the male and the female mosquitoes breed.
Mosquitoes' primary feed on plant nectars, but during breeding season, female mosquitoes require sufficient nutrition to produce eggs โthus comes blood-sucking. The female mosquito then looks for blood source, typically humans, peaking during dusks and dawns.
If a female mosquito sucks blood from a dengue-infected human, may that individual be asymptomatic or symptomatic, the mosquito also gets infected. The virus then spreads as the mosquitoes hops from one person to another to suck blood.
Additionally, the increased temperature brought by the El Niรฑo hastens the incubation period of the Dengue virus.
๐ฝ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ค๐ฉ, ๐๐ช๐ฉ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐ '๐๐ค๐ฉ' ๐ฌ๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฃ๐ฉ๐๐
Most people who get infected are asymptomatic โmeaning, they get no symptoms, or may only feel mild symptoms which are often perceived as just a simple fever which heals in about a week or two [4].
However, for those who experience severe symptoms, they usually get high fever that can reach from 38 - 40 degrees Celsius, headaches, body pains, nausea and skin rashes [4].
Those who are reinfected will feel worse symptoms. According to the study of Hanif, et al. in 2024 [5], reinfected individuals may experience bleeding, acute kidney injury and nosocomial infections (such as UTI and bloodstream infections) in addition to the common symptoms mentioned earlier.
In worst cases, Dengue fever leads to death. In fact, the Philippines has recorded 168,060 of Dengue cases from January 1 to September 23 this year, with a total of 656 deaths [6], and 2,303 of it were from Caraga Region alone as of August 2026 [7].
๐๐ค ๐ฌ๐๐๐ฉ ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฌ
Despite constant reminders of the Department of Health (DOH), and Local Government Units (LGUs), dengue fever is still rampant in the locality โto a point where it becomes an outbreak. The problem is now no longer the lack of awareness, but a profound failure of action among the community. We expect the government to do everything, yet we also neglect our own backyards. No LGU can inspect every backyard bucket, open cans, open bottles or discarded wheels, yet we point everything to them for their 'lack of action'. The surge of infection isn't only an administrative problem, but a collective neighborhood negligence.
๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐๐ฃ ๐ฌ๐ ๐๐ค
Combating dengue infection doesn't need reeducation. Most people already know what to do. It essentially only needs a simple nudge of action among the residents. That simple nudge can just be a reminder, which is what the Provincial Health Office (PHO) of the Province of Agusan del Sur is doing.
Consequently, the PHO has launched a campaign on how to combat dengue through the 4๐บ ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐:
๐บ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐
๐ซ๐๐๐๐๐๐ (๐บ1)
Empty stagnant water from open containers such as bottles, cans, basins, and trash. Secure the lids on containers used for storing water.
๐บ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐-๐ท๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ (๐บ2)
Apply mosquito repellent to keep mosquitoes away. This can be in the form of lotions, coils, or other protective products.
๐บ๐๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐ ๐ช๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐พ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐๐ (๐บ3)
Should you experience any of the symptoms mentioned earlier, get checked as early as possible to prevent complications.
๐บ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐๐๐๐๐๐/ ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฐ๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐ฏ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฐ๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐
(๐บ4)
Your LGU may schedule fogging or spraying in your area if it is identified as a dengue hotspot. This will significantly reduce the local mosquito population.
๐๐ค๐ฌ ๐๐ฉ๐จ ๐๐ช๐ง ๐๐ช๐ง๐ฃ
We've been told to empty standing waters, cover water storage, clean gutters, discard trashe, and leave no bottle caps unturned. What we must do is to live up to that expectations.
Yes, our LGUs must do their utmost in combatting the dengue outbreaks, but it is also our major responsibility, and a must-do to exert efforts towards our end because these days, ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐'๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐ป๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐.
| ๐ป ๐๏ธ AIM
References:
[1] https://web.facebook.com/share/p/16HqVLJ76a2/
[2] https://illinois-doit-prod-idph.amsadobe.com/topics-services/environmental-health-protection/structural-pest-control/mosquitoes-disease.html
[3] https://www.isglobal.org/en/-/mosquito-el-animal-mas-letal-del-mundo
[4] https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dengue-and-severe-dengue
[5] https://journalijtdh.com/index.php/IJTDH/article/view/1566
[6] https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2026/09/30/2559924/doh-leptospirosis-cases-up-dengue-down
[7] https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1277475
