Headline Dengue epidemic worsens

MediaTitle Times(manilatimes.net)

Date 08 Aug 2019 Section NEWS Order Rank 1 Language English Journalist N/A Frequency Daily

Dengue epidemic worsens

43 DEATHS REPORTED IN REGION 2; 40 SUCCUMB IN BICOL City: The Department of Health (DoH) in Valley (Region 2) has recorded 7,650 persons afflicted with the dreaded mosquito-borne dengue disease with 43 deaths from January to August 2 this year. The figure represents a 101-percent increase from the same period last year when there were 3,750 recorded cases of dengue with 12 deaths.

ON THE RISE Health Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd visits Medical Center in City to get first-hand information about dengue incidence in Quezon. The medical center has recorded 3,460 dengue cases from January to August 3, with nine fatalities. During his visit on Wednesday, Duque reminded local chief executives about the importance of the 4 o’clock habit — the Department of Health’s latest campaign to eradicate the dengue threat by destroying mosquito breeding grounds. He was accompanied by Quezon Gov. Danilo Suarez, Second District Rep. David Suarez and Third Distrtict Rep. Aleta Suarez. PHOTO BY BELLY M. OTORDOZ In Bicol, 40 people mostly children, succumbed to dengue and 4,241 cases were reported across the region in the last seven months. On Tuesday, Health Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd declared a national dengue epidemic amid soaring cases of dengue nationwide with 622 deaths as of last count. Dr. Romy Turingan of DoH-Region 2 said they are intensifying their region-wide “search and destroy” campaign in the mosquitoes’ breeding places to prevent the spread of dengue in the remaining months of this year. “Our strategy is to search and destroy their breeding places and we are distributing insecticide-treated screens to public schools in the ,” he added. Turingan said they are also conducting an intensive information campaign by tapping (village) officials through Action Barangay Kontra Dengue. A DoH-Region 2 surveillance report covering January 1 to August 2 showed that there were 2,910 cases in Cagayan province and 2,111 in , excluding those infected in the cities of , Cauayan and Santiago. In province, the report showed 720 dengue cases compared to 244 last year; , 798 compared to 740 last year; and , eight. Dr. Edward Gines, chief of the district hospital in , Nueva Vizcaya, said if patients ignore the warning signs and seek medical help late, their condition could deteriorate fast with the critical phase being reached in two to three hours. He addded that patients might go into less severe or severe shock in the critical phase, reducing their chances of survival. With only two dengue-infected patients in his hospital, Gines, nevertheless, urged people to be on the lookout for the warning signs of dengue, among them serious abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, unusual drop in body temperature and platelet count, infrequent urination and bleeding from any part of the body. “But if a patient is admitted to hospital just after the warning signs appear, and is treated properly, then the patient going into the critical phase could be averted,” he said. Gines added that pregnant women, children, old people, people with high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney or liver issues have higher risk of dengue and they should be hospitalized at the onset of fever. 4S in Bicol Dr. Ernie Vera, DoH-Bicol regional director, of the Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (RESU) said this is the second time that the has experienced a dengue outbreak. “The last time was in 1998. This year, the Philippines is experiencing a massive mosquito-borne disease infestation because the public and some local government units failed to enforce and maintain cleanliness in their localities despite our plea and holistic measures implemented with inter- agencies,” Vera told The Manila Times. He said that as early as January, the Health department called on the public and local government units to enforce the 4S strategy to thwart the spread of mosquito-borne diseases. Uunfortunately, accoding to Gines, the people are unmindful of possible pandemic. The 4S stands for search and destroy mosquito breeding places; [adopt] self-protection measures, seek early consultation for fever as early as day one; and say yes to fogging when there is an impending outbreak. In the last seven months, dengue had claimed 40 lives in Bicol and 4,241 cases were reported. Among the six provinces of Bicol, had the highest number of cases —1,706 and 17 deaths; followed by with 769 cases, 10 deaths; , 784 cases, 8 deaths; 563 cases, one death; , 271 cases, two deaths; , 144 cases, two deaths; and others (visitors), 4 cases. Vera appealed to all stakeholders that the primary interventions to prevent and control dengue are through sustained community efforts. “We enjoin all Bicolanos to conduct the ‘Sabayang 4 o’clock habit para Deng-get Out.’ Let us all together fight the bite to destroy breeding sites of mosquitos,” he said.