‘No Japanese encephalitis in Manila’

MANILA, Philippines — No cases of Japanese encephalitis have been recorded in the city of Manila, officials clarified yesterday.

Dr. Regina Bagsic, overall coordinator of the six hospitals run  by the city government, belied reports circulating on social media that a patient has died of the mosquito-borne disease in Manila.

Citing official medical records, Bagsic said the nine-year-old patient from Barangay Kasilawan in Makati City died of dengue at the Sta. Ana Hospital on Sept. 13.

She said the city of Manila remains safe rom Japanese encephalitis infection.

Mayor Joseph Estrada has ordered the Manila Health Department to conduct a campaign to inform the residents about the disease.

“Knowledge is the best defense. People should be taught what to do to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases,” Estrada said.

He urged the public to keep their surroundings clean to eliminate breeding grounds of mosquitoes that cause Japanese encephalitis, dengue, chikungunya and Zika fever.

The Department of Health (DOH)’s Epidemiology Bureau has recorded 133 cases of Japanese encephalitis all over the country from January to Aug. 26.

Nine deaths were recorded, with seven in Central Luzon and one each in Ilocos and Calabarzon regions.

“The DOH is concentrating on Central Luzon provinces due to the high cases of Japanese encephalitis. In Manila, we continue to conduct information campaign about the disease in the communities,” Dr. Benjamin Yson, city health department chief, said.

“If a patient has fever for more than three days, we refer him or her to public hospitals in the city,” Yson said.

He advised the public to wear long-sleeved tops, pants or socks to avoid mosquito bites. 

Symptoms of Japanese encephalitis are fever, headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and in severe cases, neck stiffness, seizures, paralysis and coma, which can lead to death.