With this year’s rainy season to be officially declared soon, the public is being reminded it is currently National Dengue Awareness Month, which is observed every June.

According to Presidential Proclamation No. 1204, signed in 1998 by then-President Fidel V. Ramos, “The rainy season, which starts in June, leads to proliferation of mosquito breeding sites resulting to seasonal increase in dengue cases.”

The policy calls on the Department of Health, in coordination with various groups, to support programs related to dengue awareness and prevention.

Last month, the Negros Occidental Provincial Health Office (PHO) reported the number of dengue-related deaths in the province is up to 10 this year.

PHO added, fatalities are higher this year compared to the same period in 2017, which was eight.

According to the Bacolod City Health Office, dengue hemorrhagic fever, a severe form of dengue fever, was the second leading cause of death in the city last year./WDJ