A Paradigm Shift in Surveillance System

Investigating viral diseases requires a holistic approach to the epidemiologic triad: the agent, the host, and the environment. Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) or environmental surveillance (ES) has been an effective tool to assess viral transmission at a community level, especially for polio and antimicrobial-resistant pathogens. It can provide information on virus circulation and give data on continue reading : A Paradigm Shift in Surveillance System

Preventing hazardous skin exposures in the workplace
through a comprehensive skin health program

Occupational Dermatoses (OD) is the top occupational disease especially among the marginalized workers. There is a paucity of formal data on the prevalence of OD locally except for specific occupations. Workers in the major industries in the Philippines such as manufacturing, construction, and agriculture are predominantly exposed to health hazards and are oftentimes neglected. The aim of continue reading : Preventing hazardous skin exposures in the workplace
through a comprehensive skin health program

Boosting Malaria Vector Control by Addressing Insecticide Resistance

Insecticide resistance amongst malaria vectors may render vector control interventions ineffective if not properly addressed. This may lead to increased malaria cases in provinces with ongoing transmission and may render provinces under in elimination phase and those earlier declared malaria-free at risk of reintroduction and/or re-establishment. Since several provinces continue to report imported cases from continue reading : Boosting Malaria Vector Control by Addressing Insecticide Resistance

Revitalizing the IMCI Program

The Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) is a global strategy to reduce morbidity, mortality, disability and promote growth and development of infants and children under five years old.  The Philippines implemented IMCI in 1996. Read more to learn how the IMCI project can be improved.

Strengthening Surveillance of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (TB)

The 2018 Philippine Tuberculosis (TB) Drug Resistance Survey is the latest among a series of periodic nationwide surveillance activities spearheaded by the National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory (NTRL). These surveys aim to measure the prevalence of drug-resistance in bacteriologically confirmed cases. The previous survey in 2021 found that the prevalence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) was at continue reading : Strengthening Surveillance of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis (TB)

Dog Population and Vaccination: Finding the Right Ratio to Achieve Rabies-Free Philippines

Dogs transmit 99% of cases of recorded human rabies deaths. It is estimated that 59,000 human deaths occur annually worldwide due to rabies. The annual average of deaths due to rabies in the country is 231, putting us behind in the goal of achieving a Rabies-free Philippines by 2022. According to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), continue reading : Dog Population and Vaccination: Finding the Right Ratio to Achieve Rabies-Free Philippines