Dengue cases up in Calabarzon: 50 deaths reported

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) reported yesterday that 50 people have died due to dengue while over 13,000 others were afflicted with the potentially deadly viral disease in the Cavite-Laguna- Batangas-Rizal-Quezon (Calabarzon) area.

According to DOH Calabarzon regional director Eduardo Janairo, a total of 13,032 dengue cases including 50 deaths were recorded from January to July 13 in the region.

Janairo said the figure was 26 percent higher than the 10,350 dengue cases reported during the same period last year.

As incidence of the mosquito-borne disease continues to rise, Janairo activated the Dengue Task Force in the local government units (LGUs) as well as the dengue fast lane in all government and private hospitals.

“We will also send disease surveillance officers to investigate and validate reported dengue cases, especially the Dengvaxia vaccinees who have signs and symptoms of dengue,” Janairo added.

Janairo said the DOH will assist LGUs, through the Provincial Department of Health Offices in every province, in conducting anti-dengue campaigns to prevent a possible outbreak.

“We will be prioritizing areas for community-based intervention to control the dengue vector such as areas where there are clustering of dengue cases, occurrence of an outbreak in the past year, recent dengue-related deaths, vector indicators, and presence of cases in schools and hospitals,” Janairo disclosed.

He said the DOH regional office will also intensify the health education and awareness campaign against dengue by conducting community assembly, meeting and distribution of information materials.

He urged Calabarzon residents to take the necessary precautions against dengue and to seek medical consultation immediately if suffering from a high fever.