Loren cautions DOH on dengue, A(H1N1)

Senator Loren Legarda said yesterday that the Department of Health may unwittingly give Filipinos a false sense of security by saying that dengue is far more deadly than the A(H1N1) virus.

"While that may be true, the DOH must not appear like it is belittling the threat posed by the flu by repeatedly citing dengue's higher fatality rate," said Loren.

While saying she's confident that it was not the intention of the DOH to brush aside the threat posed by A(H1N1), Loren nonetheless warned against such statements lulling the people into complacency.

Loren is the chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography.

"The number of people stricken with A(H1N1) continues to grow and while the DOH is to be lauded for the measures it is implementing against the virus, the DOH's belaboring of the difference between dengue and A(H1N1) comes off, rightly or wrongly, as an unwitting effort to brush aside the dangers posed by the flu."

"I know this perception is not accurate and I would like to join the DOH in asking our people to be also mindful and vigilant of the threat caused by dengue. A lot can be done by our people to prevent the spread of dengue by mosquitoes, especially by removing their breeding grounds on stagnant water," Loren said.

She added that both government and the people must do their share in fighting both dengue and A(H1N1) to save lives and remove health concerns that may even aggravate the present economic woes being faced by the country.