BAGUIO CITY – The Cordillera office of the Department of Health (DOH-CAR reported that dengue fever cases in the region increased by 141 percent of the first four months of this year compared to the same period last year.
Dra. Lakshmi Legaspi, DOH-CAR regional director, said that the agency was able to record 1,257 dengue fever cases from January 1 to April 30, 2016 compared to the 521 cases recorded by the agency during the same period last year.
Further, she reported that there were four dengue fatalities in the region for the first four months of this year compared to one recorded death for the same period last year The fatalities this year included a 53-year old male from Pilar, Abra and a 3-year old female from Tabuk City, Kalinga, also a 5-year old female from Tabuk City, Kalinga and a 33-eyar old male from Tuba, Benguet.
Legaspi added clustering of dengue cases were reported in Publacion East, flora; Cabatacan, Pudtol and Emiliana, Sta. Marcela, all in Apayao; Poblacion, Bokod; Luacan, Itogon; Poblacion Central, Kapangan; Bahong and Puguis, La Trinidad; Dominican Hill-Mirador, Baguio City; and Bulanao, Tabuk City, Kalinga.
Baguio City recorded the highest increase in dengue fever cases from 62 during the first four months of last year to 396 cases during the same period last year or a 539 percent increase followed by Benguet with 109 cases last year to 403 cases this year representing a 270 percent increase.
Mountain Province recorded a 133 percent increase with 21 cases for the first four months of this year compared to the 9 cases for the same period last year while Kalinga which tallied 165 cases this year compared to 90 last year had an 83 percent increase.
Apayao was able to register a 52 percent increase in dengue fever cases with 122 cases tis year compared to the 79 cases last year followed by non-Cordillera areas that recorded a 46 percent increase from 44 cases last year to 64 cases this year.
On the other hand, Abra reported a 43 percent decrease in dengue fever cases with 59 cases this year compared to the 105 cases recorded in the province for the same period last year while Ifugao reported a 26 percent increase in dengue fever cases with 29 cases this year compared to the 23 dengue cases reported in the province during the same period last year.
Legaspi cited that because of the continuous increase in the reported dengue fever cases regionwide, there is a continuous operation and coordination of all sectors, especially in the different provinces, to help in intensifying the campaign against dengue, chikungunya, zika and Japanese encephalitis.
She emphasized the importance of sustaining cleanliness inside and outside the residences of people in order to prevent the maintenance of the breeding ground of dengue carrying mosquitoes that usually thrive on clear and stagnant water placed in containers within the houses of people.
By HENT