MANILA, Philippines – Dengue cases could reach a record-high 80,000 this year, the Department of Health (DOH) warned on Tuesday.

The DOH recorded 40,648 dengue cases from January-July 2010, up 48% from 27,473 in the same period last year.

Dr. Eric Tayag, head of the DOH’s National Epidemiology Center, expects more cases to surface amid the rainy season.

“Dahil nagkaroon ng El Niño, ang mga tao nag-imbak ng tubig. Ngayon naman, second phase na tag-ulan (at) inaasahan (ang) pagtaas ng kaso,” he said.

He advised the public to clean their surroundings and get rid of mosquito breeding grounds such as stagnant water.

In response to the threat, some hospitals have set up express lanes for dengue patients.

The hospitals that have express lanes for dengue patients include the East Avenue Medical Center and San Lazaro Hospital.

"Para kung madaling ma-detect na dengue ang sakit, madaling magagamot dahil delikado ito," said Dr. Emmanuel Bueno, head of the East Avenue Medical Center’s emergency room department.

Symptoms of dengue

Dengue hemorrhagic fever is an acute infectious disease brought about by the Aedes aegypti, a day-biting mosquito.

When someone has dengue, he will show the following symptoms, according to the DOH:

* sudden onset of high fever that may last 2 to 7 days

* joint and muscle pain and pain behind the eyes

* weakness

* skin rashes -- maculopapular rash or red tiny spots on the skin called petechiae

* nosebleeding when fever starts to subside

* abdominal pain

* vomiting of coffee-colored matter

* dark-colored stools

Those experiencing any of the above symptoms are advised to seek immediate medical attention.

Preventing dengue

The DOH has advised the public to clean their surroundings including plants, gardens, canals, and get rid of stagnant water that collect in old tires and other containers. This will help rid the environment of dengue-carrying mosquitoes.

Here are other preventive measures from DOH, as shared in their website:

* Cover water drums and water pails at all times to prevent mosquitoes from breeding.

* Replace water in flower vases once a week.

* Clean all water containers once a week. Scrub the sides well to remove eggs of mosquitoes sticking to the sides.

* Clean gutters of leaves and debris so that rain water will not collect as breeding places of mosquitoes.

* Old tires used as roof support should be punctured or cut to avoid accumulation of water.

* Collect and dispose all unusable tin cans, jars, bottles, and other items that can collect and hold water.