319 afflicted with dengue in Baguio; cases rising

BAGUIO CITY – Dengue warning flags are up due to a 41% increase, or 319 cases in January to Aug. 6, Health Services Office City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit  head Dr. Donabel Tubera reported last week.

There were no reported deaths, she told the regular Association of Barangay Captains’ monthly meeting.

A clean-up drive in the barangays however was scheduled.

In July of 2014, there were 51 cases; with a 211% increase or 159 cases for July 2015 alone.

There is no outbreak yet, deemed as Code Red, Dr. Tubera said.

Code green would be for barangays with at least three cases in four weeks, it was known; Code Yellow considered a hotspot area with four cases.

Barangays with three cases each are Santo Tomas Proper, Magsaysay Private road, Liwanag-Loakan, Happy Hallow, Guisad Surong, Country Club Village and Campo Filipino.

Upper Quirino-Magsaysay, Lower Rock Quarry, Palma-Urbano, Gibraltar, Fairview Village, Asin Road have four Dengue cases each.

Dr. Tubera however clarified that these are reported only in the hospitals. Holy Ghost Extension has five cases, Scout Barrio, 6; Loakan Proper, 9; Bakakeng Central, 9; Kias, 16; Irisan, 16; and Camp 7, 18. Other barangays have one or two cases each.

The emergence of Dengue-carrying mosquitoes is attributed to the pooling of water after the non-stop rains for two weeks, it was learned. Dengue mosquitoes exist year-round but peaks during the rainy season, Dr. Tubera said.

Councilor Michael Lawana, Association of Barangay Captains president requested the City HSO to call for an emergency meeting during times of dengue resurgence, or any disease.

The requested clean-up in the barangays will be done simultaneously to ensure that the Dengue breeding places are destroyed, the barangay heads agreed.