Tips for a Dengue Free Holiday

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As soon as the air takes on a chilly nip, the radio plays Christmas songs and the streets explode with colorful lights, you know that the holiday season is just around the corner. By this time, we say goodbye to typhoons (although a couple might try to sneak through) and expect good, cool weather until January of next year. What doesn’t leave, however, is dengue which has now become a year-round issue. Falling ill with the infection amid the merriment of the season is not only a depressing thought but a real concern, since most of us will be exposed outdoors (doing our shopping, attending parties, hearing the early morning Mass) more than the usual. Fortunately, we can arm ourselves with a handful of precautions against dengue-lamok. Here’s a list of them:

Car clean: Remember that dengue-lamok can breed in a pool of water as small as a coin. As a rule, the cleaner the car, the less likely they can breed.

Click and know dengue status of the place you’re visiting. The Department of Science and Technology has put up a website called Dengue Vector Surveillance that helps you keep track of dengue incidence in a particular city. Visit http://oltrap.pchrd.dost.gov.ph and you will see a search panel where you can input the time frame, the region and the city you wish to visit. The site also lists the schools where cases of dengue have been reported. A red marker on the place signals an alert level, which means that you have to take extra precautions if you still intend to push through with your trip.

Keep your car spic-and-span clean. Holiday season means a lot of motoring around and it pays to have your car tuned-up and spic-and-span clean. Not too many people know that dengue-lamok can propagate in a pool of water as small as a coin so be sure your car doesn’t provide any breeding ground. Regularly empty water coolers and have your trash disposed. The cleaner the car, or any place for that matter, the less likely that mosquitoes are able to breed.

Website: Before heading to any destination, do check its dengue status by visiting the Dengue Vector Surveillance website of the Department of Science and Technology at http://oltrap.pchrd.dost.gov.ph.

Do a last-quarter check of your house. Have you been putting off making your house dengue-proof? Now is the best time to do a house check-up. Replace your window and door screen, your first line of defense not only against mosquitoes but other insects, if it already shows visible tear. Apply insect spray on damp, dark places if you suspect them be as breeding grounds. Of course, always empty vases and containers of water that are ideal places for mosquitoes to lay their eggs. If your village already has a high incidence rate of dengue, perhaps it’s time to explore the idea of fumigating your house.

Apply: Green Cross Insect Repellent Lotion Gentle Protect helps keep the holiday merry by providing an effective barrier against insect bites up to 8 hours.

Wear the right clothes. When going out, be sure to dress in long-sleeved clothes. You may choose something made of cotton, linen or nylon for comfort. Dengue-lamok usually bites below the knee, so be sure to wear long pants and socks as well.

Know your dengue-lamok and apply protection accordingly. Aedes aegypti has been identified as the main dengue-carrying culprit, biting between 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Another dengue-lamok, Aedes albopictus, has been discovered to have peak biting hours from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. In tandem, these mosquito strains now make dengue a round-the-clock concern. 

An insect repellent offers the quickest, most effective protection so be sure you always have a bottle in handy—in your house and in your car. Green Cross Insect Repellent Lotion Gentle Protect offers barrier against dengue-lamok for up to 8 hours and is clinically formulated to be safe for the young ones. Apply it most especially on the skin that is not covered by clothing. With a fresh, clean scent, and a light, non-greasy consistency, Green Cross Insect Repellent Gentle Protect helps you keep the holidays merry.

Kat de Castro: A mother vigilant against dengue

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Broadcast journalist Kat de Castro as a host of the long-running travel show Trip na Trip where she was able to explore the most scenic and remotest part of the Philippines, she had sampled an array of insect repellent lotions to protect her from insect bites each time she was roughing it up in the mountains or having an adventure by the sea. 

Kat de Castro rushed daughter Khloe to the hospital upon a suspicion of dengue, which actually proved true. Now, the broadcast journalist, aware that dengue has four strains, is taking all actions to free her surroundings from potential mosquito breeding grounds and consistently applies an insect repellent lotion like Green Cross.

Kat noticed that her nine-year-old daughter Khloe—an exuberant, active and outdoor-loving child—was falling ill and burning with fever, she immediately rushed her to the hospital. The doctors diagnosed the illness dengue in its early stage. “It’s a good thing naagapan kaagad,” Kat says. “We found out that she contracted it from her school. That was the time I decided that she should wear an insect repellent even when just going to school.”

Kat found an ally in Green Cross Insect Repellent Lotion Gentle Protect, which is clinically proven to be safe for a child’s skin and offers protection against insect bites (specifically against the dreaded dengue-lamok) for up to eight hours. 

“Green Cross is a brand that we have known for generations already,” she says. “Even my mom and my dad use it. When I found out that the company has an insect repellent lotion, hindi ka na magdadalawang-isip eh. You are assured that you are protected at walang magiging problema kasi trusted brand.”

Broadcast journalist and adventure-seeker Kat de Castro discovered Green Cross Insect Repellent Lotion Active Protect which, she says, is “hiyang” to her. In her travels around the country, she carries a bottle so she can be protected from insect bites, especially those of dengue-lamok for up to 10 hours.

“With the other insect repellants I’ve tried, what I noticed was I became allergic mismo doon sa product,” she says. “So far, Green Cross is very hiyang to me and hiyang to my daughter’s skin considering na our skin is sensitive. Green Cross is the one na pinaka-OK and something that I can recommend to other travelers or trippers as well.”

Kat also likes the fact that both the Gentle Protect and Active Protect variants of Green Cross Insect Repellent Lotion have a clean, fresh smell. “When you put an insect repellent, ang gusto mo lang ma-repel eh yung insect at hindi ikaw o ibang tao,” she says. “You still want to smell mabango and not amoy gamot.” 

Another draw of the product for Kat is that it’s long-lasting. Active Protect offers up to 10 hours of protection, which is perfect for her line of work, where she has to be outdoors very often. Gentle Protect, on the other hand, boasts up to 8 hours of light and non-greasy protection. With twice-a-day application, Gentle Protect essentially provides round-the-clock assurance against bites from dengue-lamok.

Aware that dengue has four viral strains and that having it doesn’t immunize oneself from contracting it again, Kat has become more vigilant than ever—both for her and her daughter’s health. She regularly removes all sources of stagnant water, checks vases for kiti-kiti and has her house fumigated.

With mom and dad having used Green Cross products for many years, Kat de Castro says that she has peace of mind when applying Green Cross Insect Repellent Lotion Gentle Protect on her nine-year-old daughter Khloe. Now, mother and daughter enjoy the tender protection of Green Cross Insect Repellent Lotion.

While she has taken extra precautionary measures against dengue, Kat says she still allows Khloe to have the full benefit of being outside in the sun and the elements. “She’s outdoorsy,” Kat says of her daughter. “She loves the beach. She can stay in the beach for three days and she won’t get bored. She’s not much into toys and she can live without gadgets. I make her a nature-lover as much as possible.

The only difference now is that she always keeps a bottle of Green Cross Insect Repellent Lotion Gentle Protect handy. “You have to choose the best insect repellent for your kid, something that won’t harm their skin, and Green Cross can do that,” she advises fellow mothers. “Be knowledgeable and vigilant about dengue and use the best product for your family.”

Dengue Defenders : Captain Green Trains Children against Dengue

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Captain Green goes to a school for a visit and there's an important message to all! 

                  

In an effort to turn youngsters to be “Dengue Defenders,” Green Cross Insect Repellent Gentle Protect is bringing an interactive program featuring Captain Green to schools all over the country. Helped by a chock-full of visuals, song-and-dance presentations and audience participation, the hero will deliver the newest information about the disease and the ways to zap its culprit —the dreaded dengue-lamok. The mosquito villain will also be present buzzing around but will ultimately be defeated by Captain Green.

“We are aware of the gravity of the dengue disease,” says Vince Camua, Senior Brand Manager from Green Cross. “Statistics show that almost half of the people who contracted dengue last year were children from ages 1-10. This is the reason why we are bringing our advocacy to schools and educating them on the myths surrounding the dengue disease.”

While a simple presentation may already deliver the information, only an interactive program can impress the importance of dengue protection in the minds of children. “We really want it to be an opportunity where children are not only listeners but participants,” Vince added. “They can move, sing and dance with Captain Green as they absorb and understand information.”

Hailing from a planet devastated by dengue, Captain Green comes to Earth to inform children about the dreaded day (Aedes aegypti) & night (Aedes albopcitus) dengue-lamok, how to stop the mosquitoes from multiplying, the tell-tale signs if they are infected, and the precautions they can take to minimize their exposure to mosquito bites.

For instance, Captain Green tells them that, aside from their usual breeding grounds (old tires and vases), dengue-lamok can also thrive “in a drop of water as small as a coin,” making it important to dry areas with stagnant water no matter how tiny they may seem.

As for the tell-tale signs of infection, Captain Green enumerates the following as possible symptoms of dengue: “high fever for more than three days, severe headache, severe pain behind the eyes, joint pain, muscle or bone pain, rashes, mild nose, gum bleed, easy bruising and low white blood cell count.”

Captain Green emphasizes that the disease, which many people think can be contracted only during the day, is now a round-the-clock concern. It is true that the more popular Ae. aegypti is a day-biter, with peak biting hours between 6AM-8AM and 4PM-6PM.  However, another dengue-lamok, the Ae. albopictus, strikes when we least expect it, with peak biting hours during the night: from 6PM-8PM and 11PM-1AM.

Near the end of the program, Captain Green unveils his secret weapon: Green Cross Insect Repellent Lotion Gentle Protect. Applied once in the morning and once in the evening, the lotion offers clinically-proven 8-hour protection against both day-biting and night-biting mosquitoes. Hypoallergenic, non-greasy and fresh-smelling, it is tested safe on the skin of children—and adults as well!

After their stint in the “Dengue Defenders” training camp, the children will receive interactive comic books and a letter to their parents with product samples of Green Cross Insect Repellent Lotion Gentle Protect for them to gain headway in their fight against dengue.

“We believe in the two adages of ‘Starting them young’ and ‘An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure,’” says Vince Camua, Green Cross Senior Product Manager. “By arming children with knowledge, we at Green Cross hope to contribute to the lowering of dengue incidents and keeping our young safe and protected.”

Green Cross provides Anton del Rosario active protection against Dengue

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Athletes don’t leave any stones unturned. Take football hero Anton del Rosario for instance. The booter, who currently plays for Kaya (a team under the United Football League) and used to be one of the more prominent faces in the national football team Azkals, is already on the soccer field even before sunrise. With training that lasts until late in the afternoon six times a week, there is no question with regard to Anton’s commitment in being the best in the game.

But being outdoors for such a lengthy period of time and in various weather conditions—from scorching heat to pounding rain—poses a host of challenges, such as heatstroke and physical injury. Another is being bitten by dengue-lamok and contracting the dreaded disease. The risk inevitably increases when athletes have to compete in various sports venues across the country and Asia. Because of dengue, his ex-teammate from Azkals OJ Porteria missed the AFF Suzuki Cup, the tournament which Anton played in 2010.

He may have been born and raised in the United States, but Anton, who has lived and played football in the Philippines for more than a decade, is aware of the threat of dengue. “Dengue is out there; it could reach anyone,” he says. “Athletes, although we are in shape and supposedly fit, are still vulnerable to those fatal mosquito bites.”

Dengue recently hit close to home when Anton’s little niece contracted the dreaded disease. “She was actually given 10 percent chance of survival,” Anton says thoughtfully. “She got lucky because she pulled out of it.”

Because of his personal encounter with dengue, Anton considers it as “scary” and “nothing to be messed around with.” With dengue having no vaccine and being indiscriminate of its victims—from a young girl to a robust athlete—Anton maintains that, “Protection is very important. You have to take all your precautionary measures to avoid it.”

This is why Anton, who hopes to play again for the national football team Azkals next year, regularly uses Green Cross Insect Repellent Lotion Active Protect. It is specifically designed for people like Anton who are always outdoors, travel a lot and work hard. “It’s something that people should be using, especially those who are active,” he says. “Falling ill during a football season could make you lose a game, even a championship.”

Anton likes the fact that Green Cross Insect Repellent packs an unbeatable maximum 10-hour protection against both Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus - the two dreaded dengue vectors that bite during the day and night. “It’s day and night protection for me against both types of mosquitoes in just one product,” he says. “I like putting it on because it has a cool, non-greasy feel, unlike other insect repellent lotions I’ve tried. It has a great, fresh scent too.”

Currently, the 31-year-old booter is competing for the UFL Cup whose championship will culminate right before Christmas and his birthday, which falls on December 23. Anton is glad that he will be able to spend the holidays with the del Rosario family, his fiancée Samantha Richelle and their three-year old son Myles.

Just like his dad, Myles is already showing signs of following in the footsteps of his father. He likes to run around and kick a ball in the playground. “I always make sure he has mosquito protection on him,” Anton says. For Myles, it’s Green Cross Insect Repellent in Gentle Protect, which is most suitable for children’s skin.

Anton says that it is important to have both the parents and their kids protected from dengue-lamok. “Let me put it this way, the kids need their parents,” he says. “Nothing offers better peace of mind than a healthy and active family.”

PAE joins forces with Green Cross in the Fight against Dengue

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The Philippine Association of Entomologists Inc. (PAE), the leading organization of insect experts in the country, has once again partnered with Green Cross, makers of Green Cross Insect Repellent Lotion, in disseminating information and promoting preventive measures to avoid the dreaded dengue disease. This mosquito-borne virus, an alarming health issue with a nationwide scale, has been an endemic presence in tropical countries such as the Philippines.

“We believe that spreading accurate, up-to-date information is a key area in our shared goal with Green Cross in order for people to be duly armed against the disease,” says Dr. Barbara Laviña Caoili, PAE president. 

“The first step is to clarify, if not outright debunk, misconceptions about how the disease spreads, and affects its victims.”

One of the misconceptions that the PAE and Green Cross want to immediately address is the notion that dengue-carrying mosquitoes only attack during the day. While this may be true with the species Aedes aegypti (usually recognized with the stripes on their body) that has peak biting hours between 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., another dengue-lamok, the Aedes albopictus, has been discovered to have peak biting hours from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. to 1 a.m.

“Not much research was devoted on Aedes albopictus since this species, usually found in forests, didn’t have direct contact with humans previously,” says Dr. Caoili. “But as humans encroach into their habitats, the dengue-lamok has found another blood source to feast on, helping spread the dengue virus in the process. With its peak biting hours from late afternoon to late evening, dengue has become a round-the-clock concern.”

Another misconception that PAE and Green Cross wants clarified is that dengue only spreads during the rainy season since the rains create potential habitats for dengue-lamok in the form of stagnant water in potholes, vases, tires and other receptacles. While statistics show a dramatic rise of cases beginning from June to December and peaking during August, dengue incidents are reported throughout the year.

According to the official tally of the Department of Health’s National Epidemiology Center, there were 110,257 incidents of dengue infection in 2011 and 187,031 cases in 2012. Statistics for this year show a marked improvement as infection cases from the first six months dropped to 56,056 cases from 60,902 cases of the same period last year. However, dengue is still considered as one of the country’s main health threats.

What the statistics additionally reveal is the fact that dengue severely affect children and adolescents. “Based on data, 43.08% of dengue infection cases fell between the 5 to 14 years old range,” says Vince Camua, Senior Brand Manager for Green Cross. “This calls for a more concerted effort in reaching out to this demographic and a host of preventive measures that will help people combat this disease.”

One of these measures is an easy-to-use personal repellent that will serve as a barrier against dengue-lamok. Based on research, Green Cross Insect Repellent Lotion has been clinically proven to be effective and safe as a preventive measure in offering long-lasting protection against the two species of dengue-carriers, the Aedes aegypti and the Aedes albopictus.

Providing up to 10 hours protection from a single application, Green Cross Insect Repellent Lotion has been formulated to suit all skin types and to be hypoallergenic as well. It also has an anti-bacterial component, making it a more reliable insect repellent compared to the existing brands in the market.

“With the partnership of PAE and Green Cross, we hope to contribute to the well-being of the Filipinos by providing a safe and effective defense against dengue-lamok, as well as provide relevant and timely information to consumers through our various programs,” says Camua. Through the combination of information and prevention, people can take a more pro-active choice in their fight against this dengue.

Green Cross initiates dengue defense in school

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This year has seen a noticeable mount of dengue cases in the country. According to the Department of Health‟s Dengue Surveillance Report, 95,142 victims have been affected by the mosquito-born disease in the first nine months of 2012 alone. A significant 12.94% increase from last year‟s same period, this turnaround left even school administration to be more vigilant and take extra preventive measures against the dreaded disease.

During the Green Cross School Crashers, the students learn the Day and Night Dengue Lamok defense, a stance similar to a karate block which shows how little kids block off deadly dengue lamok from coming near them.

The widespread transmission of dengue

The hasty transmission of the resilient virus has led school administrators, particularly the Lourdes School of Mandaluyong (LSM), to ascertain that the mosquito vector‟s highly adaptable quality is partly to blame. “These mosquitoes can easily adapt to changes in the environment, find new places to breed and even effortlessly adjust to human settlements. Previous efforts like defogging would only temporarily drive mosquitoes away, and they would be here again to look for a new prey,” shares Ana Eva Bolinao, School Principal of LSM. Bolinao also reveals that the school has recorded 20 cases of dengue out of its total population of about 1,200 high school and grade school students. The widespread resurgence of dengue may also be attributed to the latest discovery of experts of another mosquito vector stalking the city. Historically, dengue infection in the country had been attributed to the mosquito species Aedes aegypti, whose attack is far more common during the day. Entomologists have recently reported the presence of Aedes albopictus, a once confined species to forested areas, now in cities where people live. A secondary vector of the dengue virus, Ae. albopictus is as lethal as the Ae. aegypti and was found to be an active biter at late afternoon and even at night.

All students will not go home empty handed.  Aside from learning about the harmful day and night dengue lamok, they also get to take home educational brochures with fun activities inside for them to answer and share with family members.

Preventive measures against dengue

Dr. Raymond Manuel, Pediatrician and School Physician of LSM shares that cleaning campaigns like defogging has been carried out in school premises usually after classes to destroy possible mosquito breeding grounds. However the school physician discloses that apart from mosquito larva killing and eliminating pools of stagnant water, the most effective dengue preventive measure are awareness campaigns. “Though we have adequate knowledge related to the disease „dengue,‟ others do not have sufficient knowledge about the virus. And while we have a number of preventive practices against the disease like defogging, its effectiveness against dengue will be very minimal if the victims themselves aren‟t well-informed of the dengue-carrying mosquitoes,” stresses Dr. Manuel. School-aged children, especially those below 10 years old, appeared to be more susceptible to dengue virus.  These kids have fewer antibodies that are considered necessary to protect themselves against infections and illnesses, dengue included. The school has already incorporated dengue information dissemination campaign in classroom discussions during the students‟ science subject. This not only creates an opportunity for teachers to lead the class about the dangers of the disease, it all the more builds the students' knowledge from symptoms to preventive measures.

Grade school students meet the two naughty school crashers they need to avoid -Daytime Dengue Lamok (Ae. Aegypti) and Nighttime Dengue Lamok (Ae. Albopictus, and learn the deadly virus they carry with them.

The Green Cross School Crashers

Very timely is the Green Cross School Crashers campaign which was recently launched at LSM and at several Metro Manila schools. As Green Cross sees the vital importance of awareness campaigns, it embarks a Day and Night Dengue Defense drive to acquaint young students and parents alike on facts about dengue. Through the Green Cross School Crashers, students get to understand the disease, its symptoms, and defensive measures in a fun and interactive way. During the Green Cross School Crashers activity, grade school students meet Ms. Green, a Green Cross Insect Repellent Ambassador, and two costumed character mascots, Daytime Dengue Lamok (Ae. aegypti) and Nighttime Dengue Lamok (Ae. albopictus). The lessons are taught through interactive storytelling where kids learn all about dengue prevention and the dangers of dengue. Children do not only learn about the harmful day and night dengue lamok but also get to take home educational brochures they may share with family members. Aside from useful tips to keep their homes and community from becoming the breeding sites of dengue lamok, the leaflet has fun activities inside and even a survey form kids can answer and get a chance to take home a limited edition school supply kit.

The best line of defense

Though there are a number of initiatives to prevent breeding sites and protect oneself from dengue, the best line of defense is still personal protection. The use of insect repellents is highly advisable especially to protect those exposed skin one can not cover up with long-sleeved tops or pants. And the only proven protection against day and night dengue lamok is the new Green Cross Insect Repellent Lotion. It protects you from harmful mosquitoes for up to 10 hours. It also has an antibacterial formulation proven to kill up to 99.9% of disease-causing germs, a benefit which Green Cross brand has always been known for. Green Cross Insect Repellent Lotion is especially formulated to give complete protection from dengue mosquito bites, offering up to 10 hours protection per application. There are a number of effective, eco-friendly and sustainable strategies to combat dengue. Both the local government and school administration are sharing collaborative efforts in stopping the spread of this dreaded disease. Awareness campaigns are of vital importance and the Green Cross School Crashers is a welcome effort to control the spread of dengue virus. Several schools have joined and discovered this innovative way to defend oneself against dengue. Enlist your school in the Green Cross School Crashers. For more information, visit  www.facebook.com/greencrossphilippines or call the Green Cross School Crashers hotline at 0917 976 5980. Source: Department of Health Disease Surveillance Report Morbidity Week 35, Aug. 26 – Sept 1, 2012