9 die of dengue in Baguio, La Trinidad, 1,333 cases bared

Hospitals full; hotel bookings cancelled

BAGUIO CITY – Hospital here have been filled here  after dengue cases shot up with nine deaths, four from this city and five from nearby town of La Trinidad, Benguet with 1,333 and 977 cases of dengue from January to July 23, respectively.

The Dept. of Health-Cordillera said this was a lot higher as compared with 270 cases with four deaths same period in 2015.

Five of those who died were from La Trinidad, while the four deaths are from Baguio, as more dengue cases were being registered in hospitals.

Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) had the biggest number of dengue patients in the city. Most of them came from other provinces.

A total of 633 cases reported in Baguio came from the provinces of Benguet, La Union and Pangasinan. The remaining 700 are all from this city.

Due to the uptrend in cases needing hospital confinement, the BGHMC has put up three large tents outside the hospital to accommodate all patients.

The City Health Services Office has recorded 1,199 dengue cases from January to July, a 500 percent increase from the 239 cases of the same period last year.  

This, as Baguio tourism might suffer from the high incidence of dengue in the city, an official warned.

“We could not allow a meningococcemia-like situation in the city, Councilor Elmer Datuin, chairperson of the Committee on Tourism, Special Events Parks and Playgrounds,” said.

 Hotels have begun complaining of accommodation cancellations, Datuin said, as he raised the issue to the city council this week in front of health officials here.

 The concern, he said, is a declaration of an “outbreak.” “Let us be careful and prevent the increase as it already creates a big blow to the tourism industry,” Datuin added.

 Datuin has urged that there should be a closer look at the data and be circumspect in declaring an “outbreak” as it could affect the city's tourism revenue.

 What hoteliers and tourism stakeholders want, Datuin said, is an assurance from city government that dengue is being met head on.

 Baguio’s economy is primarily perked up by tourism via the service sector.

 There were already two recorded deaths from dengue of the 1,199 cases since the start of the year — a 58-year-old female from Asin Road and a 20-year-old male from Barangay Camp 7.

 Mayor Mauricio Domogan said he feared increase in cases might affect the city’s main economic activity but wishfully thinks by “not that much”.

Baguio Convention and Visitors Bureau chief Anthony de Leon thinks it is more of an image problem than dengue’s actual effect on the city’s tourism situation.

 “Tourism is not hurt but it doesn’t look good for Baguio City.”