DOH alerts Abra folk as dengue cases soar;five dead, 258 afflicted

By Maritess B. Beñas

BANGUED, Abra – The provincial   health office here urged residents to participate in the implementation of the Aksyon Barangay Kontra Dengue campaign   following upsurge of dengue cases in the area.

The Abra Provincial Health Office said dengue cases in the province reached 395 with five deaths from Jan. 1, to Aug. 25.

Leila Bernal, disease surveillance officer said of the 395 cases, 258 were found positive for dengue following laboratory tests on patients while 137 were suspected dengue cases.

               

Bernal said 136 of the total cases came from Bangued particularly in the barangays of Agtangao, and mostly in the Poblacion.

               

Per monitoring report of the Provincial Epidemiology Surveillance Unit headed by nurse-coordinator Virginia Lalin, the first casualty in February came from the municipality of Tineg but a resident  Bangued. 

               

The other  casualties came from Danglas in April, from  Yuyeng, Pidigan in July, and  from barangays Lagben, Lagangilang and Zone 5, in Bangued.

               

Bernal urged community participation in implementation of the ABKD campaign by cleaning surroundings.

               

She warned parents to observe their family members who are suspected to be inflicted with dengue to bring their patients to the doctor early to lessen complications that could lead to death.

               

Some of the vital signs and symptoms of dengue infection are low blood platelets, fever and signs of bleeding.

Dr. Darby Madriaga,  Bangued municipal health office, also  called the attention of the municipal and barangay officials to re-enforce the municipal ordinance requiring all citizens to conduct a regular all surroundings in all the barangays in the capital town  especially in possible breeding areas of dengue-carrying  mosquitoes to prevent spread of the fatal disease.