Dengue is on the rise again. There are several reported outbreaks in Metro Manila and in the provinces. This is not new. In fact, in 2005, there were 21,537 cases of dengue in the Philippines. Two hundred eighty of these died. From January to August 2006, there were 13,468 cases with 167 dead. Indeed, just like flooding and political booboos, Dengue has become a mainstay of the colorful Philippine scenario. Dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) are acute febrile diseases caused by one of four closely related virus serotypes of the genus Flavivirus , transmitted to humans by the Aedes aegyptii mosquito, which feeds during the day. This infectious disease is manifested by a sudden onset of fever, with severe headache, muscle and joint pains ( myalgias and arthralgias - severe pain gives it the name break-bone fever or bone crusher disease ) and rashes; the dengue rash is characteristically bright red petechia and usually appears first on the lower limbs and the...