Binay airs warning vs dengue

Vice President Jejomar Binay on Saturday called for “increased vigilance” and “closer collaboration” among all sectors to combat the alarming rise of dengue cases in the country.

Binay disclosed that even his eldest grandchild Boogie, the son of Sen. Nancy Binay, had caught the virus. Boogie is now undergoing treatment for dengue.

“No one is safe, everyone is at risk, regardless of age or economic status. Dengue is a serious disease that has already claimed a number of lives, many of them children,” Binay said in a statement.

He issued the statement on Saturday after a report from the Department of Health showed that over 55,000 dengue cases had been recorded as of Aug. 8.

This is 9.15-percent higher than the cases recorded during the same period in 2014.

“We call on residents to join hands with their neighbors, community leaders and local officials in cleaning up their surroundings to get rid of breeding grounds for dengue-carrying mosquitoes,” Binay said.

“The numbers may continue to rise if our citizens remain passive and let government deal with the problem on its own,” he added.

He urged parents and teachers to watch out for dengue symptoms in their children and students to detect the disease early.

“Let us all help, in every way possible, in disseminating accurate information about dengue—its causes, symptoms and cure. Together, we can achieve dengue-free communities throughout the country,” he said.—Niña P. Calleja