Eleven die of dengue in Cordi; cases now 3,131

BAGUIO CITY – Dengue cases in the Cordillera have risen to 3,131 from January to June alarming Health officials.

Ifugao topped the number of cases with 728; Baguio with 705, Benguet with 562, Mountain Province with 473, Kalinga with 413, Apayao with 145 and Abra with 105.

There were 11 fatalities from the region with Abra, three deaths, having the highest number due to the mosquito-carried disease. It is followed by Benguet, Baguio, and Mountain Province with two deaths each.

Despite this, the Department of Health refused last week to declare either an epidemic or a state of calamity because some provinces have already seen a drop in the number of dengue cases, said Dr. Eric Tayag, director of the National Epidemiology Center.

He added an epidemic can only be declared if the following conditions are met:

People who have fallen ill from dengue can no longer be treated at home because of the virulent nature of the disease.

A high number of deaths occur due to the disease.

Hospitals can no longer accommodate patients seeking treatment.

Nationwide, a total of 77,012 dengue cases, including 543 deaths, have been recorded from January 1 to September 4 this year. -- Kristynne Nalupa