DepEd, DOH watch over possible disease outbreaks on the onset of school opening
Written by admin on May 27th, 2010The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Provincial Health Office (PHO) in Albay are now monitoring and preparing for possible outbreaks of flu and other diseases in time for the opening of classes in June.
Albay Schools Division Superintendent Epifanio Buela has directed all heads of public elementary and high schools here to ensure the cleanliness of their respective schools and surroundings.
Buela said that while sanitation should perk-up weeks before schools open, students, on the other hand, will be taught the proper hygiene during the first week of school year.
He added that the DepEd will make sure that classrooms and school facilities as well as the vicinity are mosquito-free.
He further said that teachers and parents should also keep watch of students who show signs of flu and fever.
Dr. Luis Mendoza, Albay provincial health officer, meanwhile, stressed that PHO has been on watch for possible illness outbreaks, including dengue hemorrhagic fever and possible second wave of Influenza A H1N1.
Mendoza has warned the public to be wary of dengue noting that there are so far 308 cases, with 3 deaths in Camrines Sur recenlty, recorded from January to May, this year.
Dengue is caused by day-biting mosquitoes while cholera is transmitted through eating of food and drinking of water contaminated with human waste. Both diseases could prove fatal to students and adults alike.
Albay PHO has also released an advisory on different water and food borne diseases in time for the school opening.
Mendoza said that the public should exercise utmost vigilance by making sure that their water and food are clean.
Mendoza noted further that Influenza A H1N1 which hit many countries in the world in 2009, including the Philippines, is as good as gone but there is actually still much that needs to be done in order to prevent another outbreak.
He said that the illness is communicable and that students, especially those who had spent their vacation abroad with cases of Influenza A, can be carriers of the virus.
The health office has advised the frequent washing of hands, proper hygiene and other measures to prevent the spread of the virus.
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