Dengue afflicts 3, 257 in Cordillera with 6 deaths

BAGUIO CITY -- The Dept. of Health warned the public to take measures against dengue with increase of cases nationwide even as the DOH has implemented measures to address this. 

Health Secretary Francisco Duque has declared a national Dengue alert last July 15 to raise public awareness on this health threat with several regions showing rapidly increasing number of cases like in Northern Luzon.

National data recorded 106,630 dengue cases from Jan. 1 to June 29, which showed an 85 percent increase compared to the 57,564 recorded during the same period in 2018.

For Cordillera, DOH recorded 3,257 dengue cases suspects in the region from Jan. 1 to July 13, a 31 percent increase compared to the 2,494 cases recorded during the same period last year, said DOH Cordillera entomologist Alexander Baday during the Cordillera Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council  meeting on July 22.

The report included six dengue - related deaths recorded in the region (three in Benguet, one in Baguio City, one in Mountain Province and one from non – CAR province,  two more than the four deaths recorded during the same period in 2018.

 Apayao recorded the most cases with 616, followed by Benguet with 565, Abra with 517, Ifugao with 354, Kalinga with 289, Mountain Province with 207, then Baguio City with 210.  There were also 499 non – CAR cases included in the report gathered from Cordillera hospitals. 

 DOH-CAR Regional Director Dr. Amelita Pangilinan said the increase in dengue cases in the region is not yet on alarming level.

But she said they want to prevent having such alert level, and are into intensified surveillance and health promotion, and effective clinical case management that include ensuring presence of dengue fast lanes to both public and private health facilities.

The health department is distributing drum net covers, insecticides, dengue rapid test kits, long lasting insecticide treated nets, and intensified information activities.

Pangilinan cited the health department’s 4S campaign against dengue namely: Search and destroy (mosquito breeding sites); self-protection; Seek early consultation and Support spraying/fogging in the community if there is are cases or impending outbreak. (JDP/CC-/PIA CAR)