BIO-THREATS and heightened nationwide security against them is a concept that largely lives in the realm of international espionage and fast-paced novel-turned-movie thrillers – until something as inconsequential as a mosquito has laid up to 6000 people low in the past two weeks.

Dengue fever, also known as “dandy” or “break-bone” fever is a mosquito-borne virus carried by the striped Aedes Aegypti. Its symptoms manifest as fever, headaches, muscle and joint pains, and a rosy skin rash.

Children below the age of ten are at a high risk of dengue mutating into dengue hemorrhagic fever that may result in bleeding, low levels of blood platelets, and blood-plasma leakage. Dengue shock syndrome can also stem from DHF and cause dangerously low blood pressure.

There have been over 45,000 registered dengue cases and 267 registered dengue-related deaths from January 1 to August 6 this year. While these figures are a third lower than they were this time last year, nearly 50,000 people infected does not a victory make.

The media has been inundated with information about the disease, methods of prevention, and directions on how to alleviate symptoms – but this is no time to rest on our laurels. We may be able to recite dengue factoids until we are blue in the face, but doing nothing about it is just as dangerous as not knowing at all.

People all around the country, especially in the National Capital Region and Central Luzon, are admonished to remain vigilant. Throw out stagnant water, have mosquito nets at home, always have bug repellant on hand – and if dengue strikes, administer paracetamol and not anti-inflammatory steroidal drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen which serve to thin the blood and cause internal bleeding when someone is infected by dengue.

While there is no cure for the dengue virus, we must be vigilant in combating the symptoms of the disease. Precision and accuracy would win the war against the mosquito. To cure the fever, base your paracetamol dosage on the victim’s weight, not age in order to treat efficiently and effectively. Hydrate and keep blood sugar and sodium levels stable.

As in any battle, use the right tools for the right job. The threat that the Aedes Aegypti poses should be no match for the combination of intellect, prevention, and cures that we have at our fingertips.