Announcement

**Shiloh** · June 23, 2008, 09:37 PM

Re: Philippines: Dengue cases up 180% since January - DOH

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/net...p.by.100..html

Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Health office: Leptospirosis cases up by 100%
By Carlo P. Mallo

DAVAO CITY -- The Department of Health (DOH)-Southern Mindanao said the cases of leptospirosis in the city has increased by more than 100 percent for the six months of the year compared to the entire year of 2007.

"From January to June, we had about 21 cases of leptospirosis," said Dr. Rogelio Pe?era, a medical specialist of DOH. For the entire year of 2007, only 10 cases of leptospirosis have been reported.

Leptospirosis or Weil's disease is a bacterial infection that causes the enlargement of spleen, jaundice, and nephritis. It can be transmitted to humans by exposure of unhealed blisters and open wounds to water contaminated with animal urine.

These data were presented by the DOH-Southern Mindanao during Monday's Kapihan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao's Caf? Rysus.

The health department also reported an increase in the number of dengue cases in Southern Mindanao.

For the first quarter of 2008, there were already 371 cases of dengue reported in Davao City; 75 in Davao del Norte; 29 in Davao del Sur; four in Davao Oriental; and two in Compostela Valley.

However, the figures were based solely on the monitoring conducted by the DOH through their Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, thus may not have included other unreported cases.

"There was a six percent increase compared to last year," said Pe?era.

Engineer Antonette Ebol, Dengue Program Coordinator of DOH-Southern Mindanao, said they are expecting the number of dengue cases to rise from this time on with the onset of the rainy season.

Dengue is spread by female aedes aegypti mosquitoes.

The health department said ensuring that one's surrounding is free of stagnant water and damp, which are favorite mosquito breeding grounds, could prevent dengue.

It also discouraged the public from wading through flooded roads to avoid leptospirosis. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)

**Shiloh** · June 23, 2008, 09:44 PM

Re: Philippines: Dengue cases up 180% since January - DOH

Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&r=&y=&mo...0624.htm&no=03

High incidence of liptopirosis noted in Davao region

by Prix D Banzon

Davao City (24 June) -- The Department of Health (DOH) noted the high incidence of leptospirosis cases in the region, a deadly disease caused by Leptospira inteerrogans bacterium that resides in the kidneys of rats.

Dr. Rogelio Penera, medical specialist of DOH XI during the Kapehan sa Dabaw held at Caf? Rysus of SM City Davao warned the public to be careful especially those in flooded areas as urine of rodents are carried by waters.

He said the bacteria could pass through open wounds in humans and common during rainy seasons mostly in urban areas although he said there are also cases in rice farms where rats thrive.

He said there is not enough advocacy on this and the public should be aware of the disease and must take the necessary precautions.

The incubation period (time of exposure to first symptoms) is anywhere from 2 to 20 days.

According to Wikipedia, in humans, leptospirosis is a biphasic disease that begins with flu-like symptoms (fever, chills, myalgias, intense headache). The first phase resolves and the patient is asymptomatic briefly before the second phase begins that is characterized by meningitis, liver damage (causing jaundice), and renal failure.

Because of the wide range of symptoms the infection is often wrongly diagnosed. This leads to a lower registered number of cases than the actual number of cases of liptospirosis there really.

Symptoms of leptospirosis include high fever, severe headache, chills, muscle aches, and vomiting, and may include jaundice, red eyes, abdominal pain, diarrhea and/or a rash.

The symptoms in humans appear after a 4--14 day incubation period.

Penera said they've noticed that there are many patients in the region who are undergoing dialysis and he suspected that some of these are leptospirosis cases. (PIA) [top]

**Shiloh** · June 24, 2008, 04:42 PM

Re: Philippines: Dengue cases up 180% since January - DOH

Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakin...thern-Mindanao
More dengue cases expected in Southern Mindanao

By Judy Quiros
Mindanao Bureau
First Posted 15:17:00 06/24/2008

DAVAO CITY, Philippines -- The Department of Health (DoH) in Southern Mindanao said it expects an increase in dengue cases in the region because of the onset of the rainy season.

"With our present weather, more cases of dengue are expected," Dr. Rogelio Penera, medical specialist of DoH 11, said.

Antonette Ebol, DOH 11 dengue coordinator, told reporters that they have already recorded a six-percent increase in dengue cases during the first quarter of the year compared to the same period last year.

She said there have been 481 dengue cases in the region, with two deaths recorded. Last year, there were 450 cases and two deaths.

Ebol said Davao City still has the highest dengue incidence, with 371 cases recorded in the first quarter. During the same period last year, there were 352 cases recorded in the city.

She said they are tightly monitoring the city's dengue hotspots such as Talomo south and north, Buhangin and poblacion.

Ebol said they are also monitoring the situation in capital towns and cities in Davao del Sur, Davao del Norte, Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental.

"DoH 11 has also placed under surveillance all schools as dengue hotspots," she said.

Ebol said they are hoping to keep dengue deaths to a minimum by improving public awareness about the mosquito-borne disease.

"DoH 11 is continuously conducting orientation[s] and [an] awareness campaign on dengue?in highly critical areas, including schools," Ebol said.

Penera said aside from dengue, the DoH is also concerned about the prevalence of waterborne diseases such as influenza, diarrhea and skin diseases during the rainy season.

**Shiloh** · June 25, 2008, 03:57 PM

Re: Philippines: Dengue cases up 180% since January - DOH

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/bag...gue.bared.html
Thursday, June 26, 2008
New tactic vs dengue bared

THE Department of Health (DOH) launched a new strategy to combat the dreaded dengue fever disease, saying raising public awareness is not enough.

The Communication for Behavioral Impact (Combi), which seeks to move communities into action, has become the health department's new battle cry in its effort to eliminate or reduce the number of persons affected by the disease.

Barangay Puguis in the town of La Trinidad was chosen as the pilot area for the program.

Health Regional Director Myrna Cabotaje said the Combi for dengue program will not only focus on raising the awareness of the people on dengue, but also to move the community to act to get rid of the disease.

Puguis is one of the largest barangays in La Trinidad, and has been recorded as one of the areas where dengue outbreaks occurred in past years. The village has a population of more than 5,300.

The recent dengue case recorded in the village was the death of a seven-year-old child, who was not able to survive due to late consultation.

Cabotaje said there is now a need to push the community to move as the trend of the disease has been increasing.

"We need to go beyond awareness. We have to instill a behavior change among the people. It's no longer enough we only raise the level of awareness, we need action from the community," she said.

The DOH is stressing on "search and destroy" the breeding ground of mosquitoes strategy to prevent the disease. Seeking early consultation once symptoms occur is also one of the measures to combat dengue.

Although dengue cases went down by 42 percent last year compared to 2006, the DOH reported cases have increased for the first five months of this year.

In 2007, there were 1,146 dengue cases reported in the region, with two reported deaths.

Health officials said dengue cases are high in urban areas and are rising in thickly populated rural areas.

Dr. Lyndon Lee-Suy of the DOH central office said dengue, which has been considered as among the top priorities of the health department, is now a global concern.

He said the Asian Development Bank is investing on dengue programs, as a consequence of the concerns of developed countries to the disease.

**Shiloh** · June 26, 2008, 06:13 PM

Re: Philippines: Dengue cases up 180% since January - DOH

Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/103576/1...engue-hotspots

13 Baguio villages mulled as dengue hotspots
06/27/2008 | 04:21 AM

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines - Dengue cases in Baguio rose to 26 percent this year.

The City Health Services Office (CHSO) said 108 dengue cases were recorded in eight sentinel hospitals here from January 1 to June 13.

"This is a 26-percent increase from the previous year and a 10-percent increase in over a five-year average," Dr. Donnabel Tuvera said in her report to City Health Officer Florence Reyes.

The youngest affected is an 11-year-old girl from Barangay Irisan. She died due to Dengue Shock Syndrome. The oldest victim of the disease meanwhile is 53 years old.

**Shiloh** · June 29, 2008, 04:11 PM

Re: Philippines: Dengue cases up 180% since January - DOH

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/bag...n.schools.html

Monday, June 30, 2008
DOH: Stop spread of dengue in schools
By Jane Cadalig

THE Department of Health (DOH) will distribute insecticide-treated curtains to about 42 schools as part of the agency's effort to reduce the number of dengue cases in the Cordillera.

Dr. Antonio Bautista, chief of the DOH's infectious diseases cluster, said the treated curtains would be distributed to the high-risk areas in the region through the Department of Education (DepEd).

The health department has identified 26 municipalities in the Cordillera's six provinces and seven barangays in Baguio City as dengue high-risk areas, based on an average three-year morbidity data.

Bautista said the insecticide treated curtains have been proven successful in eliminating malaria in Africa.

"If this will be successful in our fight against dengue, we will expand the distribution to other schools in the region," he said.

The DOH has intensified its campaign against dengue, saying outbreaks of the disease have become a yearly occurrence. Dengue outbreaks were recorded to occur every three years, but health officials expressed alarm over the change of pattern.

It is looking at the possibility of integrating dengue prevention and control in the school's curriculum to educate the students on how to avoid acquiring the disease.

In 2007, 1,146 dengue cases were recorded in the region, with Baguio City posing the highest number. A total of 511 dengue cases were recorded in the city. Benguet noted 197, while Mountain Province had 145. Seven towns of the province's 10 municipalities were declared high-risk areas for dengue.

Among the recorded cases last year, 56 percent of the victims were males while 44 percent were females.

The DOH recently launched the Communication for Behavior Impact (Combi) program as a new strategy in eliminating the disease.

The program seeks to involve the community in the implementation of the preventive measures against dengue.

(June 30, 2008 issue)

**Shiloh** · July 1, 2008, 07:03 AM

Re: Philippines: Dengue cases up 180% since January - DOH

Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=...0701.htm&no=17

PIA Press Release
2008/07/01

One Samareno dead from typhoid fever, two others from dengue

Catbalogan City (1 July) -- Cases of typhoid fever in Barangay Igot, Villareal, and dengue cases in Barangay Buenavista, Daram, all of Samar province, have made the provincial health office and the Department of Health (DOH) representatives extremely busy and the populace scared.

In a report filed by DOH Provincial Representative Dr. Antonio Tirazona, it mentioned that in Igot, Villareal, there are some 69 cases and one mortality.

The report further mentioned that the suspected source is the barangay's shallow well which is the main water source of this barangay with some 1,200 population.

Despite the absence of their Municipal Health Officer, the RHU dispatched a team to conduct an investigation and at the same time, the team conducted a barangay assembly where they discussed the ways to abort the outbreak.

The team also sought the assistance of Mayor Reynato La Torre for medicines.

The mortality was identified as Imie Ledoblado, 14.

Meanwhile, in the island town of Daram, another 40 cases of dengue was reported by DOH Rep. Anna Lissa Babon.

Babon said that two of those afflicted have died though she failed to identify them.

She narrated that the first mortality, a 14-year old male was said to have come from Pier Dos in Catbalogan City.

After his death, cases of dengue were spotted in the adjacent houses where the young male lived, including another death.

The barangay council and the Mayor's office initiated 'operation linis' to prevent the worsening of the situation.

Babon said that although only four have been admitted to the Samar Provincial Hospital, most cases are treated with home care using Oral Replacement Solution.

Although ruled by a medical doctor as Mayor, Daram is one of those municipalities without a municipal health officer.

Health authorities have repeatedly appealed to the barangays to adopt hygiene and health seeking behavior to combat any form of ailment.

Just early this year cases of typhoid fever hit a Zumarraga barangay and DOH Central office made interventions.

Sanitation practice of most Samarenos still fail to get the approval of most health authorities. (PIA-Samar)

**Shiloh** · July 7, 2008, 10:38 PM

Re: Philippines: Dengue cases up 180% since January - DOH

Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/105650/D...anga-up-by-250

Dengue cases in Pampanga up by 250%
07/08/2008 | 08:23 AM

MANILA, Philippines - President Arroyo's home province registered a 250-percent increase in the number of dengue cases in the first half of 2008, compared to the same period last year.

DWIZ reported Tuesday that as of June 30, the health department in Central Luzon recorded 616 cases in Pampanga province, the highest in the region with a total of 1,578.

The number did not include dengue patients brought to hospitals in Metro Manila and outside Central Luzon, the report added.

Figures reaching DOH Central Luzon director Rio Magpantay showed many of the cases were recorded in Sapang Bato village in Angeles City, Madapdap resettlement area in Mabalacat town, Pulong Santol village in Porac and Dolores village in the City of San Fernando.

Other areas also with high recorded incidences of dengue were Masantol, Mexico, Arayat, Apalit, Macabebe, Magalang and Lubao. - GMANews.T

**Shiloh** · July 8, 2008, 10:09 AM

Re: Philippines: Dengue cases up 180% since January - DOH

Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakin...t-half-of-year

DOH REPORT:
Dengue kills 13, downs 1,746 in CL during first half of year

By Tonette Orejas
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 22:36:00 07/08/2008

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Philippines -- Dengue has killed 13 people and infected at least 1,746 others in Central Luzon from January 1 to June 14, a report from the Department of Health on Tuesday showed.

Pampanga reported the highest number of dengue cases at 652 and deaths at five, according to the report of the DOH's regional epidemiological surveillance unit.

Nueva Ecija had 324 cases; Bulacan, 306; Tarlac, 198; Zambales, 142; Bataan, 134; and Aurora, three.

The present count is 268 percent higher than for the same period in 2007, Dr. Rhodora Cruz, regional dengue control program coordinator said in a telephone interview on Tuesday.

"The rise has been alarming," Cruz said. This has not taken Central Luzon out of the top five regions with high incidences of dengue.

Dengue, borne by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, is a year-round problem but its peak season occurs usually in June and July.

Rains at this time of the year fill up receptacles for clear, stagnant water that are ideal breeding sites for mosquitoes.

The dengue outbreaks in Pulong Santol in Porac and San Juan in Apalit, both in Pampanga, and in Angat, Bulacan, have been controlled, Cruz said.

The DOH, she said, has intensified the drive to eradicate if not minimize the problem. With local governments, it has launched integrated vector controls by detecting and destroying breeding sites in houses and public areas.

In areas where an outbreak has developed, DOH resorts to fogging. The agency has also stepped up its information and education campaign, focusing starting this week on school children.

In regional hospitals, DOH set up dengue express lanes that provide immediate assistance to potential dengue victims.

Dengue manifests through fever, rashes and flu-like symptoms.

The DOH has also piloted in June the Communication Behavioral Impact (Combi) project in the City of San Fernando, which reported the most number of dengue cases in Pampanga, she said.

**Shiloh** · July 10, 2008, 05:12 AM

Re: Philippines: Dengue cases up 180% since January - DOH

Source: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/20...nt_8522494.htm

Dengue cases can be "phenomenal" in Philippines
www.chinaview.cn 2008-07-10 11:01:04

MANILA, July 10 (Xinhua) -- Dengue cases this year could reach a "phenomenal" number in the Philippines and might even surpass the country's worst outbreak in 1998, media reports said on Thursday.

No less than 12,000 dengue cases have been reported from January to May, said Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, quoted by the Manila Bulletin.

"There has been an increase of about 36 percent over last year," Duque said.

"Our highest (number of cases) was in 1998. Let's cross our fingers and hope we don't reach that, but there are indications it could reach, even surpass (the record)," said the health chief of the country.

In 1998, close to 40,000 cases of dengue, 500 of them fatal, were reported.

"Let's brace for the worse but we are not helpless," he added.

Duque said that the trend of the mosquito-borne disease is going up since 2005 because global warming causes the mosquitoes carrying the dengue virus to become extremely hyperactive.

"Because they are hyperactive, they have to feed more and bite more," Duque said.

He added that apart from global warming, the increase of dengue cases could also be attributed to urbanization and congestion.

"We now have more people, more congestion so mosquitoes do not have to travel far to transmit their virus," he said.

**Shiloh** · July 10, 2008, 05:32 AM

Re: Philippines: Dengue cases up 180% since January - DOH

Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/106131/C...f-dengue-cases

Caloocan health officials express concern over number of dengue cases
07/10/2008 | 11:14 AM

MANILA, Philippines - Health officials in Caloocan City on Thursday expressed concerns over the dramatic increase in the number of dengue cases in the city during the first six months of the year.

Radio dzBB's Bernie Morales reported that city health officials recorded at least 747 cases so far this year - which is already nearly five times the 154 cases recorded in the same period last year.

This has already resulted to the death of six dengue patients, the report said.

Health officials consider dengue a year-round threat, and have encouraged residents to keep their surroundings clean and dry to prevent dengue-carrying mosquitoes from breeding. -

**Shiloh** · July 10, 2008, 11:44 AM

Re: Philippines: Dengue cases up 180% since January - DOH

Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakin...440-in-Romblon

SAYS LOCAL EXEC
Suspected dengue, typhoid outbreaks down 440 in Romblon

By Veronica Uy
INQUIRER.net
First Posted 22:53:00 07/10/2008

MANILA, Philippines -- A suspected case of typhoid and dengue outbreak in Romblon province downed about 440, mostly school children, Councilor Benjie Mayor said Thursday.

Seeking the help of the national government, he said his town needs doctors and medicines to cope with the situation.

In a text message, he said half of Romblon East Central School's 700 students were feverish, while 10 similarly sick students from Romblon West Central School were not attending class.

"Sixty-nine are confined at the Romblon District Hospital due to a typhoid outbreak. ?Di kasama sa bilang ?yong nagpa-check sa rural health centers (Not included in the count are those who went to rural health centers for checkup)," he said.

"?Yong iba pinauwi muna. Kulang sa doktor at gamot (The others have been sent home due to lack of doctors and medicine)," he added.

Romblon was where the MV Princess of the Stars sank with over 800 passengers and crew on board on June 21. Only 87 have been found alive.

The ship was found to be carrying 10 tons of the toxin endosulfan, and has prompted authorities to ban the eating of fish off Romblon, depriving its residents of a major source of livelihood.

**Shiloh** · July 10, 2008, 02:06 PM

Re: Philippines: Dengue cases up 180% since January - DOH

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/dum....oriental.html
Friday, July 11, 2008
Dengue kills 2 in Negros Oriental
By Victor L. Camion

THE Department of Health (DOH) in Negros Oriental reported two persons who died from dengue this year.

DOH also reported an increase of dengue cases by 30 percent.

Dr. Socrates Villamor, chief of Epidemiology Surveillance Unit of the DOH, told Sun.Star that there are 396 cases recorded as of July 6 this year with two deaths.

Villamor stressed that dengue cases this year is higher by 111 cases compared to last year of the same period.

Records show that there were only 285 cases last year from January 1 to July 6.

He also noted that cases of dengue in the month of June and July increased compared to the previous months.

There were 130 cases reported for the month of January. It decreased to only 70 cases for the following month.

The 55 cases for March went down to 42 cases for April. A dramatic decrease was reported for June with only 26 cases.

But a total of 73 cases were recorded from June 1 to July 6 this year.

Villamor explained that the abrupt increase of dengue cases in June is due to rainy season.

A 42-year-old man from Bayawan City succumbed to death while treated at the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital on June 29.

While a six-year old girl from La Libertad died at the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital last March.

Villamor warned the residents in the province to exercise the four "S" to avoid loss of life.

He said proper sanitation is the most important and effective tool to prevent dengue-carrying mosquito.

He also said early consultation of doctor prevents death.

**Sally Furniss** · August 2, 2008, 03:57 AM

Re: Philippines: Dengue cases up 180% since January - DOH

<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">BAGUIO CITY</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">PHILIPPINES</st1:country-region></st1:place>? This city?s mayor has banned carwashing in public areas as a way to help control the mosquito population<o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
The July 15 story said Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. ordered the banning of carwashes because they can cause water to stagnate, which attracts mosquitoes.

The Department of Health had earlier asked the City Health Services Office to beef up the efforts to combating the spreading of dengue fever and the spreading of mosquitoes. <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
The ban is also to help protect pedestrians who are put in danger when carwashing occurs on public sidewalks.

http://www.carwash.com/news.asp?N_ID=68421

Announcement

Philippines: Dengue cases since January - DOH

Philippines: Dengue cases since January - DOH

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