BAGUIO CITY – The Cordillera office of the Department of Health (DOH) here warned residents in the different parts of the region to be on alert for the expected recurrence of the dreaded meningococcemia virus during the rainy months, thus, people must keep themselves healthy to prevent them from being infected with such disease.

The advisory was issued by health authorities in the light of the on-going awareness campaign on the A (H1N1) virus which is nearing a pandemic level because of the rapid increase in confirmed and suspected cases in the different parts of the world.

Dr. Myrna Cabotaje, DOH-CAR regional director, said the three-year lifespan of the vaccine against the meningo virus will end this year, thus, appropriate information have already been given to the different health authorities region-wide to be on alert for the expected rise in the number of meningococcemia cases.

In 2005, the city suffered a huge setback in terms of tourist arrival which extended to several months after local officials made irresponsible statements on the presence of a number of meningococcemia cases that caused undue panic among local residents and tourists alike.

As a result, the local tourism industry nearly collapsed because of a sudden drop in tourist arrivals due to fear of being affected with the dreaded disease.

Cabotaje explained meningococcemia is far more dangerous than the current A (H1N1) virus because of its affect to human beings.

For the past several years, meningococcemia and dengue fever had claimed the lives of a number of Filipinos compared to the A (H1N1) as the latter has still no recorded deaths but is spreading rapidly.

According to her, the symptoms of meningococcemia, dengue fever and A (H1N1) are almost the same, thus, people who experience flu-like symptoms so that the appropriate medication and observation could be done.

The DOH-CAR official claimed the problem with persons suffering from influenza is they undergo self-medication which is rather dangerous since they consult their physicians when their situation becomes worst and sometimes too late which results to their untimely demise.

Cabotaje disclosed the rainy season is considered the flu season because of the weakened immune system of a person, thus, the important thing for individuals is to keep themselves healthy by eating the right kind of food.

At the same time, the DOH-CAR also advised the public to keep their surroundings clean at all times to prevent the breeding of the dengue-carrying mosquito in stagnant water so that the dreaded disease will not be transmitted by the mosquitoes from an infected person to another.

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See also:

• Meningococcemia being checked in Cebu
• Quick facts about meningococcemia
• Makati City closes hospital
• Filipinos in HK still not affected by H1N1
• DOT, DOH to hold simulation drill on H1N1 virus
• US swine flu toll at 21, as death strikes NY, Chicago
• Children to be quarantined as swine flu toll hits 634 in Australia
• Swine flu: French doctor urges masks for Obama D-Day visit
• DOH lerts Cordillera folk on meningo outbreak