Dengue fever cases in Ilocos down by 66%

SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union — Dengue cases in the Ilocos region from January to date this year have decreased by 66.64 percent compared to the same period in 2015, the Department of Health (DOH) reported.

David Zaragoza, health education promotion officer of DOH-1, said the figures this year remarkably lowered with a total of 3,162 cases compared to last year with 4,745 cases.

Mortality rate also declined by 33.4 percent rom 16 deaths last year to seven this year.

This year’s dengue-related deaths were recorded in Dagupan City, Mabini, Calasiao, Binalonan, Umingan, Urdaneta City and Asingan, all in Pangasinan.

“This positive outcome is due to the full blast intervention conducted by the health department in partnership with the local government units and the schools from both public and private,” Zaragosa said over the Ammuentayo radio program of the Philippine Information Agency-La Union.

In addition, reports from the DOH-1 revealed that dengue cases in the four provinces of the region showed a significant reduction.

Data from said period showed that cases in La Union went down from 1,869 to 674; Pangasinan-from 1,426 to 1,365; Ilocos Sur-from 802 cases to 735; and Ilocos Norte from 648 last year to 388 this year.

Zaragoza said the continuous advocacy resulted in an active participation of the community.

“They are now armed with proper awareness on dengue prevention and control which they fully embrace and implement in their own household, Zaragoza added.

With this development, the DOH-1 encourages the general public to continuously support all the various health programs to further minimize or even eradicate dengue cases.