Dengue fever is a public health concern of tropical countries in modern times. The dengue virus is carried by the female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Dengue affects more than 400 million people worldwide, with over 250,000 developing the most serious complication called dengue hemorrhagic fever. With a mortality rate of 5-10%, it is imperative for communities to adapt new strategies in the continuing fight against this dreaded disease.
In 2014, dengue afflicted 10,908 Filipinos with 23 mortalities in Region 3 of the Philippines. Though the incidence of the disease is lower compared to the 2013 level of 16,914, the threat is of huge public concern since it is prevalent in both urban and rural settings and affects people, mostly children, from all socio-economic classes. Pampanga province reported 4,191 cases, followed by Bulacan (1,694), Nueva Ecija (1,507), Tarlac (1,277), Bataan (1,269), Zambales (753) with Aurora reporting a mere 217 dengue cases.
The project aims to implement new strategies in the fight against dengue fever. The new strategies include:
a) Nationwide massive information program using national cable TV networks,
b) Community empowerment thru education on the importance of prevention measures and orientation on the use of TMOF-Bti biolarvicide to prevent maturity of Aedes aegypti larvae
c) Implement a novel 3-pronged treatment modality that will decrease the blood's susceptibility to harbor dengue, strengthen blood vessels by decreasing the capillary fragility in patients and directly neutralize or kill the virus in patients already stricken with dengue.
The first new strategy involves a nationwide information program using an infomercial-type presentation to be aired on the cable TV networks belonging to the 800-member Federation of International Cable TV and Telecommunications Associations of the Philippines (FICTAP). We will begin showing this in June 2015, a month before the dengue season starts, and will run for 6 months.
The second new strategy involves community education on the importance of prevention measures like the 4 o'clock habit and misting of mosquito-prone areas. This will also involve the use of Trypsin Modulating Oostatic Factor-Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (TMOF-Bti) biolarvicide Rice Husk Granules and Wettable Powder in households and in perennially flooded areas known to harbor mosquitoes. This is a non-toxic environment-friendly biolarvicide that prevents the larvae of mosquitoes from reaching maturity. This strategy will complement well the Philippines government's anti-dengue drive called the '4 o'clock habit'. Prior to the distribution of these larvicide, there will be a launching event where the local stakeholders will attend an orientation-lecture on the use and merits of utilizing the larvicide in the control of the mosquito vector. Flyers will be distributed to the community.
The third strategy will implement a novel 3-pronged treatment modality that will: 1) help directly kill the dengue virus, using an immune system modulator that has antiviral properties; 2) make the affected patient's blood unable to breed the virus by using an alkalinizing powder that's mixed in the patient's water; and 3) help stabilize and strengthen the fragile capillaries of the patients, most often the cause of massive bleeding and eventual death, by using massive doses of sodium ascorbate.
These three new strategies, we believe, will lower morbidity and mortality of dengue patients.
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