Dengue deaths nearing a thousand

MANILA, Philippines — The fatalities due to dengue are now nearing a thousand as the prevalence of the mosquito-borne disease continues to surge nationwide.           

Data from the Department of Health (DOH) showed a total of 229,736 dengue cases from January to Aug. 17. Deaths rose to 958 – a noticeable rise from last year’s 582 for the same period. The total figure is more than double the 110,970 cases recorded during the same period last year.

The high incidence of dengue prompted the DOH to declare a national dengue epidemic last month.

Western Visayas posted the most number of cases with 39,892; followed by Calabarzon with 30,899 and Northern Mindanao with 17,674.           

DOH said Western Visayas also accounted for the highest number of deaths with 179; followed by Calabarzon with 98 and Central Visayas with 90.

Dengue cases exceeded the epidemic threshold in Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol region, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Soccsksargen and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.       

Cases in the National Capital Region and Ilocos have exceeded the alert threshold.       

Children aged five to nine years were the most affected with a total of 52,207 while males accounted for more than half of the cases with 120,258.      

The DOH projected that dengue cases would reach 240,000 this year, considering the three-year cyclical spike.

As the cases nationwide continued to increase, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) called on the public to actively take part in initiatives to address the problem as it stressed its impact on children.

“We enjoin the public to cooperate with the efforts of the government, follow reminders and warnings and help with information drive for it is our collective and moral duty to uphold and protect the health and welfare of all especially the children,” said CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia.

The CHR official said that the changing climate may worsen the dengue problem, citing an increase in the number of mosquitoes and a larger geographic range.

“Fighting the root cause of dengue through extermination of mosquitoes is one way to curb the epidemic but equally important is protecting the children in the long term through healthcare programs including vaccination,” De Guia added.

In Kidapawan City, the council passed its anti-dengue measure, ordinance 19-043, to prohibit the stockpiling of used tires, unused liquid containers and empty car battery casings that can contain water where dengue-carrying mosquitoes can lay eggs.

Violators and residents who refuse to eliminate mosquito-breeding spots in their immediate surroundings will be fined P5,000.

Mayor Joseph Evangelista earlier ordered administrators of private and public schools in all of the city’s 40 barangays to keep campuses clean in support of his administration’s anti-dengue thrusts.

The city recorded 687 cases with two deaths from January to Aug. 30 this year. – With Janvic Mateo, John Unson