The City Health Office’s Tropical Diseases Prevention and Control Unit continues to conduct a Transmission Assessment Survey (TAS) for Filariasis in endemic districts in Davao City.
Melodina Babante, head of the CHO’s Tropical Disease Division, said they are currently conducting the second transmission assessment survey in the nine endemic districts in Davao City and will hold a school-based assessment survey next year.
“Hopefully, dili ta muabot og 18 ka mga nagpositibo sa sakit nga filariasis kay para mupasar na pod ta, ang Davao City sa Filaria-free sa transmission assessment survey 2. Dili na nato balikon ang pag-painom og mga prophylaxis or mag-conduct ta’g MDA (Mass Drug Administration) diri sa ato’ng syudad, labina gyud ang atoang mga endemic districts (Hopefully, we won’t have 18 individuals tested positive for filariasis so Davao City may continue to be considered a filaria-free city in the second transmission assessment survey. We should not repeat taking prophylaxis or conducting MDA (Mass Drug Administration) here in our city, especially our endemic districts),” she said on the city-owned Davao City Disaster Radio.
She said the nine endemic districts in Davao City are Buhangin, Bunawan, Sasa, Paquibato, Toril, Tugbok, Marilog, Calinan, and Baguio.
She said Davao City was deemed Filaria-free in 2018 as a result of the 2017 Transmission Assessment Survey, in which only four people tested positive.
“Kay naa sa guidelines sa Filariasis nga kung dili muabot og 18 ka positibo [sa Filariasis] ang usa ka syudad pasar sya sa ginatawag nato nga Filaria-free nga lugar (According to Filariasis guidelines, a city is considered Filaria-free if it does not reach 18 positive cases for the parasite),” she said.
She said the CHO stopped the Mass Drug Administration (MDA) or massive drinking of prophylaxis because Davao City was already considered Filaria-free.
She added that Dabawenyos should not be complacent because 12 people tested positive for filariasis in 2023 during their spot-check survey.
“Bisan pa man kung ang Davao City Filaria-free na, dili gihapon ta pakumpyansa. Kung naa mo’y gipamati nga mga simtomas [sa Filariasis] ayaw mo kahadlok nga muadto sa mga health centers, magpa-check-up mo didto aron mahatagan mo og sakto nga mga advice sa ato’ng mga doctors, sa ato’ng mga nurses kung unsa ang dapat buhaton (Even if Davao City is Filaria-free, let’s not be complacent. Do not be scared to visit the health centers and be checked if you experience any symptoms of filariasis. This will allow you to provide our doctors and nurses with the appropriate information, particularly regarding what you should do),” she said.
She said symptoms of Filariasis include recurrent fever, headache, and colds. In the chronic stage, signs include joint pains, swollen lymph nodes, armpits, and groins.
“Kung balewala-on pa gyud kay kulang pa gyud sa kahibalo, didto na ta sa acute stage, mao na na sya’y naa na siya’y mga deformities, makita na nato ang mga deformities. Like mag-ihi na ta og kana’ng puti kaayo nga color sa ato’ng ihi or i-compare nato sa hugas bugas nga ihi (If they ignore it because of lack of knowledge, it can reach the acute stage, that’s when they could have deformities. And the color of their urine is like rice water),” she said.
She said the medication for Filariasis, diethylcarbamazine (DEC), is only available at the CHO.
Babante also reminded the public to keep their surroundings clean to avoid mosquito-borne diseases such as Filariasis.
She also called on the parents to participate in the transmission survey or nocturnal blood examination in schools in January 2025.
“Kung naay mga parents’ consent (form) nga ihatag sa inyoha para sa kana nga activity, transmission assessment survey for Filariasis, palihog pirmahi ninyo para maprotektahan ang inyong mga anak (If there are parents’ consent (form) given to you for that activity, the transmission assessment survey for Filariasis, please sign it to protect your children),” she said. CIO
