KALIBO, Aklan – Consumers are warned of fake mosquito repellent products proliferating in Aklan markets.
Department of Trade and Industry provincial director Carmen Iturralde on Thursday said they are working with the Department of Health (DOH) to monitor these fake products that pose risk to public health.
Iturralde also said consumers should be vigilant in buying these products.
“We received reports that the supply of Off Lotion has depleted in supermarkets in the province. The absence of the supply provided opportunity among many sellers to sell other product alternatives against dengue,” Iturralde said.
From January to June 15 this year, the DOH recorded 92,267 cases of dengue in the country.
Of the number, 10,133 cases are in Western Visayas, with 61 recorded deaths, the highest nationwide.
Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection which causes a flu-like illness, and occasionally develops into a potentially lethal complication called severe dengue, according to the World Health Organization.
The dengue virus is transmitted by female mosquitoes mainly of the species Aedes aegypti and – to a lesser extent – Aedes albopictus.
The viral disease is characterized by a high fever (40°C/104°F) which is accompanied by two of these symptoms: severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pains, nausea, vomiting, swollen glands or rash.
Symptoms usually last for two to seven days, after an incubation period of four to 10 days after the bite from an infected mosquito. (With a report from Jun Aguirre/PN)
