Philippines: Dengue cases 2009

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Re: Philippines: Dengue cases 2009

Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/default.asp?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p090622.htm&no=17

2009/06/22

Dengue cases, up to 14% higher than last year

Tuguegarao City (22 June) -- Officials of the Department of Health (DOH) Region 2 does not only focus on Influenza A(H1N1) after receiving the report that dengue cases got higher as compared to last year.

Dr. Lydia Depra-Ramos, Regional Director, disclosed that from January to June of the current year, there are already 395 dengue cases in the region, a 14 percent higher as compared to last year.

Ramos said this is the season of dengue that's why are expecting more cases to be reported, however, she assured that they are on alert to take actions on these cases.

"We are paying attention to dengue cases because its getting higher, equally as we are also paying Attention to the A(H1N1) virus," Ramos said.

Ramos encouraged all hospitals to put in place their dengue express lane to avoid infection with other patients inside the hospital.

In line with this, Ramos also encouraged everyone to donate blood voluntarily because majority of the patients that need blood units from the blood are dengue victims.

"Blood donation help much our dengue patients that's why we are holding series of blood donation activities in different areas to respond to the needs of the dengue patients and others," Ramos added.

Ramos also advised the people to keep surroundings clean and dry, do proper healthy lifestyle, and keep body resistance to fight against any diseases. (Ver/PIA 2) [top]

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Philippines: Dengue cases 2009

Source: http://www.thenewstoday.info/2009/06/24/dengue.claims.7th.casualty.html

Dengue claims 7th casualty
By Maricar M. Calubiran

Another child succumbed to Dengue fever bringing the total number of casualties of the mosquito-borne disease here in Iloilo City to seven since the start of the year.

The recent casualty is four-year old Paul Sote-ar of Zone 8, Calumpang, Molo who died a day after he was admitted at Iloilo Saint Paul's Hospital.

The boy was brought to the hospital Friday last week but died the following day. It was not immediately known on whether the victim manifested symptoms of dengue before he was brought to the hospital for medication.

The boy's family was stunned over his sudden demise. It was not immediately known on whether there are other residents in the barangay who experienced symptoms of Dengue.

Barangay officials conducted a clean-up in Zone 8 after the news on Sote-ar?s death broke. During the clean-up, they found an old tire near the victim?s house.

A barangay official said they found mosquitoes and wrigglers inside the old tire. They suspect the victim was bitten by a dengue carrying mosquito coming from the old tire. Old tires and containers are favorable breeding places of the dengue-carrying mosquitoes.

Two months ago, Mayor Jerry Tre?as has called for the participation of the punong barangays in the campaign against dengue. He was alarmed by the rising number of dengue cases in the city.

Punong barangays were asked to initiate clean up operations particularly in barangays where there are cases of dengue. The cleanliness of the surrounding is an important weapon in the drive against dengue.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Philippines: Dengue cases 2009

Source: http://www.visayandailystar.com/2009/June/25/topstory3.htm

Dengue cases down
58% in Neg. Occ.
BY CARLA GOMEZ

There were 165 dengue cases in Negros Occidental from January to May 30 this year, or 58 percent below the 406 during the same period last year, Dr. Luisa Efren, provincial health officer, said yesterday.

She said one dengue fatality was reported this year, compared to four in the same period in 2008.

However, Efren stressed the need to remain vigilant against dengue, pointing out that it is more dangerous than Influenza A(H1N1). If you look at the mode of transmission you can get dengue through the bite of infected mosquitoes that can be everywhere.

On the other hand, H1N1 can be acquired through droplet infection from an infected person whom you can avoid, she said.

Of the 165 dengue cases this year Talisay and Bago cities had the highest at 27 each, Silay City ? 24, Sagay City ? 16, Valladolid ? 9, Victorias and Escalante cities ? 7 each, San Carlos and Cadiz cities ? 6 each, EB Magalona and Kabankalan City ? 5 each, Binalbagan and Himamaylan City ? 4 each;

Cauayan, Manapla and Murcia ? 3 each, Ilog and Pulupandan ? 2 each, and Calatrava, Candoni, Hinigaran, Isabela and San Enrique ? 1 each.

All local governments have been asked to conduct the Four S campaign in their areas: search and destroy mosquito breeding places, safe protection measures, seek early consultation and treatment and say no to indiscriminate fogging, Efren said.*CPG

 

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Re: Philippines: Dengue cases 2009

Source: http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=police3_june26_2009

Dengue cases dip in Para?aque City

The Para?aque City health office has reported a drop in dengue cases due to a drive largely based on prevention over treatment.

Mayor Florencio Bernabe Jr. has ordered precautionary measures to combat the disease that becomes pronounced in the wet months as sections of communities are waterlogged.

?Dengue is still a serious threat to health especially during the rainy season and must never be underestimated that is why we are continuously stepping up our efforts to protect our constituents from this deadly infection,? he said.

Dr. Darius Sebastian, in his epidemiology surveillance report to Bernabe, noted a decrease of 412 cases covering January to June in 2008 against only 158 cases for the same period this year.

He said the campaign?s efficiency was due to the combined efforts of doctors, nurses, sanitation officers and barangay health workers, who oriented residents on the 4S in dengue prevention: search and destroy mosquito breeding places, self-protection measures (use of jogging pants, pajamas, mosquito nets, insect repellant lotions), seeking immediate medical help; and saying ?NO? to indiscriminate fogging.

While the Solid Waste and Environmental Sanitation Office cleared canals and other waterways, sanitation officers applied larvicides on stagnant waters in vacant lots and abandoned structures along with village officers and residents cutting grass in their surroundings.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Philippines: Dengue cases 2009

Source: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=481865&publicationSubCategoryId=200

Dengue outbreak declared in Isabela
By Charlie Lagasca Updated June 28, 2009 02:46 PM

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines ? A dengue outbreak was declared in Isabela?s Santiago City amid rising cases of persons afflicted with the dreaded disease since January his year, including three recent deaths, including a grade schooler in a neighboring town.

Likewise, classes had been suspended in a private elementary school for three days over the week in the city?s adjacent Ramon town, also in Isabela following fears of possible spread of dengue among schoolchildren in the said southwestern town.

Santiago City?s dengue outbreak declaration came after 181 cases of dengue had been reported there from January to June with at least two deaths, both girls, recently.

Of this, 67 cases have been reported this month alone while at least 30 cases were monitored last May, with Health officials expressing alarm that cases may increase with the onset of the rainy season.

Health officials said the number of reported cases in the city were remarkably higher than in the same period last year, prompting the declaration of a dengue epidemic throughout the city.

 

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Re: Philippines: Dengue cases 2009

Source: http://globalnation.inquirer.net/ce...0090629-212939/Anti-dengue-efforts-stepped-up

Anti-dengue efforts stepped up
By Marian Z. Codilla
Cebu Daily News First Posted 09:14:00 06/29/2009 Filed Under: Dengue

Approaching the halfway mark of the year, Cebu City has recorded 381 cases of dengue with 10 deaths.

Taking this as a sign that the dengue virus is still more of a threat to the lives of Cebuanos than the Influenza A virus subtype H1N1, the Cebu City government has solicited the help of a private company in the information drive against dengue.

The Cebu City government has been distributing stickers produced by eTelecare Global Solutions. These stickers, which disseminate anti-dengue information, have been distributed to the city?s barangays.

With the onset of the rainy season, the city government has also started cleanup drives with the help of barangay health workers and several non-government organizations.

Public consultations and information drives have also been conducted in private companies and public schools.

Barangay health centers have also stepped up surveillance of dengue cases for early detection of the disease.

Also, City Hall personnel have sprayed anti-mosquito mist in a 50-meter radius around the homes of recent dengue cases.

The latest half-year figures for dengue were noted to be 41 percent lower than last year. In 2008, there were 655 cases with 29 deaths recorded from January to June.

Mayor Tomas Osme?a earlier said that the city's goal is to have ?zero cases? of dengue.

Osme?a has asked the Mayor?s Management Team to conduct barangay sharing workshops for different barangay officials and discuss measures aimed to deter the propagation of dengue-carrying mosquitoes.

Apart from preventive measures, City Hall is also conducting reactive measures.

The city government has again launched its ?Type Kita? program, which aims to catalog the blood type of the city?s residents.

The blood type catalog would enable easier coordination in case any dengue-infected person needs a transfusion.

The Cebu City Medical Center also offers free medicines, laboratory examinations and hospitalization to dengue patients.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Philippines: Dengue cases 2009

Source: http://www.thenewstoday.info/2009/06/29/iloilo.city.records.nine.dengue.deaths.html

The News Today
Updated June 29, 2009 Iloilo City, Philippines

Iloilo City records nine dengue deaths
By Maricar M. Calubiran

While the government is focusing on the spread of A(H1N1) influenza, the dreaded dengue virus has already claimed the lives of nine people and affected 82 persons here in Iloilo City. The 82 cases were recorded from January to June 22 this year. In 2008, there were no recorded deaths in the first five months of the year.

Ironically, the city government declared the month of June as Dengue Awareness Month yet dengue cases continue to increase. The rising number of dengue cases has alarmed Mayor Jerry Tre?as. As such, he has ordered all the punong barangays to conduct clean up activities particularly in barangays where there are confirmed dengue cases. Cleanliness in every barangay is the most effective weapon in eliminating the spread of the dengue-carrying mosquitoes.

On his part, City Health Office head Dr. Urminico Baronda concurred that preventive measures must be practiced. He recommended pro-active measures in eliminating the dengue cases in the city that mostly affect children. The dengue cases swell in the months of June until September.

Most of the dengue cases were recorded during the onset of the rainy season. Stagnant water and dark places are the favorable places for the dengue carrying mosquitoes to procreate. Emptying of containers and cleaning of drainage are highly recommended to kill the wrigglers. The health office recommends the use of larvicidal in large open areas with water to kill the wrigglers. The fogging operations for four consecutive weeks in areas considered as dengue hotspots is only suggested if necessary.

The health office came up with a campaign strategy dubbed as ?4S? in order to address the increasing number of dengue cases in the city. The 4S are search and destroy breeding places of mosquitoes, self-protection by wearing proper clothing, seek early consultation and say no to indiscriminate fogging. Fogging is discouraged as it brings risks to individuals suffering from asthma, said Baronda.

The CHO is likewise conducting a massive campaign against the spread of dengue. The information campaign relative to the dengue awareness month aims to inform and educate the public in protecting themselves from the dengue infection. The consolidated effort from the health educators, barangay officials, school officials and media will ensure the proper and effective dengue campaign plan.

The information drive is being led by Dr. Mae Delmo. She serves as the city health office dengue coordinator and designed the action plan and recommendations to eliminate the upsurge of dengue cases. One of her recommendations is a continuous surveillance of dengue cases.

Delmo said the surveillance will be conducted by barangay health workers (BHWs), sanitary inspectors, midwives or nurses in-charge of the barangay. The participation of barangay kagawads particularly those assigned in the health committee is necessary. The conduct of surveillance is a must in the monitoring of areas with dengue cases.

The mobilization of designated barangay personnel for continuous dengue prevention initiatives is called for. The health office is closely coordinating with the Association of Barangay Captains in the implementation of the dengue campaign plan. Along with the punong barangays, the assistance of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office was tapped for the environmental management and cleanliness aspect, said Delmo.

The prompt reporting of confirmed dengue cases is also proposed by Delmo. The report coming from the barangay will be validated by medical officer-in-charge of each district and for purposes of hospital reporting. Moreover, they also encouraged the schools to introduce dengue prevention in the science class. Children of school age will have an idea about dengue as well as its prevention when taught in school.

 

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Re: Philippines: Dengue cases 2009

Source: http://davaotoday.com/2009/06/29/dengue-fever-cases-rising-in-number-annually/


Dengue fever cases rising in number annually
Published: June 29, 2009

DAVAO CITY ? Cases of dengue fever registered a rise of 30 percent compared to the same period last year.

Dr. Rogelio Pe?era, head of the Department of Health (DOH) Davao Preventive Emergency Management Unit and Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit said that the increase has been an annual trend ever sine, a problem that has still no solution so far. ?Marami tayong cases pero mas mataas ang kanyang mortality rate (We have a lot of cases (diseases) but it (dengue fever) has the higher mortality rate)?, said Dr. Pe?era.

Majority of those in the hospitals are dengue fever cases. DOH has a regular monitoring system, gathering figures and data of dengue cases in all hospitals weekly.

Every Tuesday, selected hospitals submit their weekly surveillane reportsto the DOH. The DOH then consolidates this data and send reports to Manila every Friday. (PIA-XI)

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Philippines: Dengue cases 2009

Source: http://www.thenewstoday.info/2009/06/30/dengue.deaths.reach.11.html

Updated June 30, 2009 Iloilo City, Philippines
Dengue deaths reach 11

By Maricar M. Calubiran

The Iloilo City Health Office (CHO) has recorded two more additional dengue deaths.

As of yesterday morning, the figure increased from nine to 11 deaths which prompted the chief executive to call for a meeting with the members of the dengue coordinators in order to stop more dengue deaths.

Mayor Jerry Tre?as said he is set to meet with the dengue coordinators as he is greatly troubled with continuing increase of dengue fatalities here. There is a need to work double time, the mayor added, though dengue cases are ?still manageable.?

?There should be no more dengue deaths in the city", Mayor Trenas said.

The mayor said the meeting is called for not because those involve in the campaign are not doing their part. The meeting will strengthen the action plan to stop the occurrence of more dengue deaths or victims. The fight against dengue needs the participation of all sectors. The business sector, church and school must help in the campaign against the spread of dengue.

He will meet with Dr. Mae Delmo, dengue coordinator of the city health office, sanitary inspectors, barangay health workers, Association of Barangay Captains, City Environment and Natural Resources Office among others to come up with a realistic and functional approach in the drive against dengue fever.

Earlier, the city health office has already designed an action plan dubbed ?4S? in order to address the increasing number of dengue cases in the city. The 4S are search and destroy breeding places of mosquitoes, self-protection by wearing proper clothing, seek early consultation and say no to indiscriminate fogging.

Fogging is discouraged as it brings risks to individuals suffering from asthma while the CHO recommends the use of larvicidal in large open areas with water to kill the wrigglers of the dengue-carrying mosquitoes. The fogging operations for four consecutive weeks in areas considered as dengue hotspots is only suggested if necessary.

Most of the dengue cases were recorded during the onset of the rainy season. Stagnant water and dark places are the favorable places for the dengue carrying mosquitoes to procreate. Emptying of containers and cleaning of drainage are highly recommended to kill the wrigglers.

The city government has already embarked with different advocacies from barangay to barangay information campaign to media advocacy about the dreaded dengue. The city mayor has also called for the participation of the 180 punong barangays in the dengue campaign by conducting clean up activities particularly in barangays where there are confirmed dengue cases. However, the number of dengue cases continues to increase when compared in 2008.

The mayor said one of the factors that contributed on the increase in the number of cases is the early onset of rains. In the statistics of the health office, dengue cases swell in the months of June until September.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Philippines: Dengue cases 2009

Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=12&r=&y=&mo=&fi=p090701.htm&no=25

Dengue cases in Antique rise with one death

by PS Mabaquiao

San Jose, Antique (1 July) -- The Antique Provincial Health Office reported that dengue cases in the province continue to rise with 28 from January to June and one death. Twenty one of these cases were recorded for the month of June.

Sporadic rainshowers in the afternoon and sunny day is a condition conducive for dengue mosquitoes to thrive especially in unattended surroundings, so we urged everyone to be vigilant in keeping their vicinity and indoors clean and free of mosquito breeding places, said Mildred Quilino, Information Officer, Provincial Health Office.

Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever is whole year round health problem with cases rising during rainy season and affect all age groups. This disease (transmitted by Aedes, a day-biting mosquito) is preventable but is prevalent in urban centers where population density is high, water supply is inadequate (resulting to water storage and a good breeding place for the vector), and solid waste collection and storing are also inadequate.

Aedes aegypti, the transmitter of the disease, is a day-biting mosquito which lays eggs in clear and stagnant water found in flower vases, cans, rain barrels, old rubber tires, etc. The adult mosquitoes rest in dark places of the house.

Signs and Symptoms of the disease include sudden onset of high fever which may last 2 to 7 days, joint & muscle pain and pain behind the eyes, weakness, skin rashes - maculopapular rash or red tiny spots on the skin called petechiae, nosebleeding when fever starts to subside, abdominal pain, vomiting of coffee-colored matter and dark-colored stools.

The Department of Health encourage everyone to do the folowing prevention and control strategies: cover water drums and water pails at all times to prevent mosquitoes from breeding, replace water in flower vases once a week, clean all water containers once a week and scrub the sides well to remove eggs of mosquitoes sticking to the sides. Clean gutters of leaves and debris so that rain water will not collect as breeding places of mosquitoes, old tires used as roof support should be punctured or cut to avoid accumulation of water, collect and dispose all unusable tin cans, jars, bottles and other items that can collect and hold water.

The local health authorities call on the local government units, communities and families to double their efforts in conducting search and destroy operations of mosquito breeding places to ensure elimination of Aedes Aegypti. (PIA) [top]

 

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Re: Philippines: Dengue cases 2009

Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/209119/86-die-dengue

86 die from dengue
By JENNY F. MANONGDO
July 3, 2009, 6:18pm

Nearly 9,000 patients have become afflicted with dengue during the first half of the year, the Department of Health (DoH) reported adding that 86 Filipinos have perished from this mosquito-borne disease in its latest surveillance update on the disease.

A total of 8,442 dengue cases were admitted in DoH-sentinel hospitals nationwide from January to May 31, the National Epidemiology Center (NEC) Public Health Surveillance and Informatics Division of the DoH reported.

This figure is 48.1 percent lower than the figures on the same period last year. The youngest dengue patient registered is an infant less than a month old and the oldest is 93 years old. Majority of the cases were males and seventy percent of the cases belonged to the one to 20 years age group.

Health officials are closely monitoring the areas of Manila and Quezon City, two areas in the National Capital Region (NCR) that posted the highest number of dengue cases in the Department of Health (DoH) dengue surveillance report covering May 17 to 23.

The 20th morbidity week surveillance update of the DoH-NEC registered the city of Manila as the city with the most number of dengue cases at 408 with one death followed by Quezon City with 378 cases and five deaths. However, Manila's dengue incidence is 59 percent lower than last year's figure at 865 and Quezon City is 52 percent lower at last year's 789 cases.

But the Department of Health (DoH) said the public should not be complacent about this as the illness may climb during the rainy season.

Apart from Manila and QC, Caloocan was also identified as one of the top cities with the most number of dengue cases at 162 and two deaths; Navotas with 157 cases with no death and Paranaque with 128 cases and two deaths.

In the recent launch of the nationwide anti-dengue campaign, DoH Secretary Francisco T. Duque III emphasized that dengue is more ?fatal? than the influenza A (H1N1).

He said the Case Fatality Ratio (CFR) of A (H1N1) is less than one percent compared to dengue's CFR of one percent.

Symptoms of dengue include sudden onset of high fever for 2 to 7 days, joint and muscle pains, pain behind the eyes, weakness, and red and tiny spots in the skin that evolve into rashes.

Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy, Infectious diseases specialist of the DoH said the public should continue to implement the 4-S strategy in destroying the breeding sites of mosquitoes. This is the Search and Destroy strategy, Self-protection, Seek early treatment and Say no to indiscriminate fogging.

According to experts, dengue mosquitoes breed on clean and stagnant water such as flower vases, old tires and tin cans.

The DoH named the regions with the highest number of dengue cases: NCR (1,935); Davao region (1140); CALABARZON (1,043); Central Visayas (633); Western Visayas (556).

In Manila, the following towns have the most number of infections: Sampaloc and Tondo.

In Quezon City, the towns of Commonwealth, Bagumbayan, Novaliches, Krus na Ligas, Payatas, Project 2, San Roque and Tandang Sora had the highest number of dengue cases.

Makati, Navotas, Taguig and Pasig City were also found to have clustering of dengue cases.

Other dengue hotspots within the past four weeks are Bulacan, Negros Occidental, Iloilo, Davao Del Sur, South Cotabato and Surigao del Sur.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Philippines: Dengue cases 2009

Source: http://www.visayandailystar.com/2009/July/03/topstory8.htm

IN BACOLOD
Dengue cases rise
BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO

The recorded number of dengue cases in Bacolod City rose to 315 as of June 24, records from the Bacolod City Health Office showed.

The CHO recorded 257 cases as of June 6, but only two recorded deaths from January this year ? a 5-year-old girl from Handumanan, and a 10-month old baby from Vista Alegre.

City Health Officer Dr. Salome Bi?as yesterday said they are intensifying their campaign against the spread of dengue. She said the number of cases is expected to rise during rainy season and is highest in July.

CHO Statistician Warlito Vallente said the number of dengue cases started to rise in the first two weeks of June.

Meanwhile, the number of students from St. John?s Institute who have fever dropped to three as of yesterday, from seven last Wednesday.

Bi?as said they were diagnosed to have nasopharyngitis and asthma.

SJI suspended all classes this week after several of its students were hit by the flu. Classes will resume on Monday after the school has been disinfected to prevent the possible spread of Influenza A(H1N1).

Bi?as had earlier said that the suspension of classes is part of the precautionary measures implemented to allay apprehensions of parents since several students were found having fever in school.

The number rose to 135 Monday from 53 Friday. This went down to 46 on Tuesday and seven on Wednesday.*CGS

 

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Re: Philippines: Dengue cases 2009

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/network/child-3-11th-victim-dengue-cebu

Child, 3, is 11th victim of dengue in Cebu
Saturday, July 4, 2009


CEBU CITY -- Dengue has claimed its 11th victim in this city this year with the death of a three-year-old child last July 1, a day after she was brought to the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC).

Assistant City Epidemiologist Durinda Macasocol said the parents of the child reportedly took her fever for granted for days, and only decided to bring her to the hospital after she worsened.

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?Dugay gihatod ba sa parents,? she said. She again advised the public to immediately bring family members sick with fever to the hospital for check-up.

She advised parents against waiting three days or more to have their loved ones checked for dengue fever.

?Dili man na Ginoo ang mga doctor nga makaya pa nila?g luwas ang tawo kung grabe na (Our doctors are mere humans who cannot save all those in critical condition),? she said.

The child from A. Lopez St. was the third victim to die of dengue fever in Barangay Labangon this year.

His death came 12 days after a four-year-old boy from Barangay Talamban succumbed to dengue last month.

The victim from Talamban had fever on June 16, but was brought to the hospital only last June 20.

A 10-year-old girl from Sikatuna St. died of dengue last May 9. She was the ninth dengue fatality in the city this year.

Macasocol said that City Hall offers free complete blood count and platelet count to possible cases of dengue, so there should have been no reason for residents not to bring the sick to the CCMC or to the barangay health centers for consultation.

City Health Department records showed that 381 persons have contracted dengue fever in Cebu City from January 1 to June 20 this year. That figure is 41.65 percent lower compared to the 653 cases recorded during the same period last year.

While 11 lives were lost this year, the number is 62 percent lower compared to 29 deaths due to dengue last year.

Signs and symptoms of dengue include high fever, body weakness, abdominal pain, vomiting and in worse cases, nosebleeds.

Macasocol said awareness of dengue and proper sanitation are necessary to combat the disease.

That is why, she said, the CHD and the 80 barangay captains of the city have agreed to make every first Saturday of the month a ?cleaning day,? when residents should ?seek and destroy? mosquito breeding sites. (RHM of Sun.Star Cebu)

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Philippines: Dengue cases 2009

Source: http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/regions/12690-dengue-kills-7-victims-in-central-luzon.html


Dengue kills 7 victims in Central Luzon
Regions
Written by Joel P. Mapiles / Correspondent
Sunday, 05 July 2009 19:19

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO?During the first six month of 2009, seven deaths from Pampanga and Bulacan were recorded by the Department of Health (DOH) in Region 3 out of the 654 cases of hemorrhagic dengue fever traced in Central Luzon.

This figure excluded those cases from Tarlac as DOH Region 3 is still gathering data from the province as of this writing.

As this developed, DOH Region 3 director Rio Magpantay announced the launching of a ?dengue-free school? in cooperation with the Department of Education. Magpantay said most patients stricken by this disease were young people aged 5 to 14.

Dr. Roda Cruz, an officer from the DOH Regional Health Office, said that with the dengue-free school drive, the DOH is now implementing a series of dengue-prevention activities in cooperation with school administrators and local government units operating within school campuses.

Last month the DOH also launched a nationwide antidengue campaign dubbed as ?Ako, Ikaw, Tayong Lahat Laban sa Dengue.?

Magpantay disclosed that the first six months of this year showed a steady decrease in the number of reported dengue cases, down 70 percent compared with the same period in 2008.

Magpantay said that despite the remarkable decrease in the number of reported cases, there is still a need to intensify the campaign against dengue as this poses a danger to the general population.

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III cited the role of local government officials in spearheading the campaign in their respective localities.

Duque said the DOH launched what it called the ?4S? strategy involving ?search and destroy, self-protection, seeking early treatment, and saying no to indiscriminate fogging.?

?With the 4S campaign made in communities and schools last year, people became more aware of how easy it was to prevent the spread of the dengue-carrying mosquitoes,? Duque said.

?Our success last year, however, should not lull us into complacency this year,? Duque noted. He added that dengue is now a year-round phenomenon in the country due to climate change.

Duque also underscored the prevalence of what he called WILD diseases during the rainy season. These consist of waterborne infectious diseases, influenza, leptospirosis and dengue. He added that these WILD diseases are easily preventable if only people follow the advisories issued by the DOH on television, radio, newspapers and even on the Internet via the DOH web site.

According to Duque, it will only take about 30 seconds of washing the hands with soap and water or the equivalent of singing the ?Happy Birthday? song twice in order to remove most bacteria.

Duque also said the use of handkerchiefs or disposable tissue when coughing or sneezing can help prevent the transmission of disease through droplet infection.

?The most important key to prevent and control diseases is empowering our people with correct information so that they can take steps to stop and prevent the transmission of communicable diseases through proper and timely health-seeking behavior,? Duque concluded.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Philippines: Dengue cases 2009

Source: http://www.thenewstoday.info/2009/07/07/dengue.deaths.registered.to.13.html

Updated July 7, 2009 Iloilo City, Philippines
Dengue deaths registered to 13

By Maricar M. Calubiran

The number of dengue deaths in the city continues to increase registering 13 deaths and 87 people affected. The figure obtained from the City Health Office (CHO) was recorded from January to July 3, 2009. As such, the chief executive reiterated his executive orders to all barangay officials for a massive clean up activities.

The latest statistics released by the health office prompted Mayor Jerry Tre?as to repeat his May 20, 2009 order to all punong barangays in the city for clean up activities in order to eliminate and destroy the breeding places of dengue-carrying mosquitoes.

The chief executive stressed the importance of cleanliness in eliminating the spread of dengue-carrying measures. The May 20 order was issued with an aim to prevent deaths and cases of dengue in the city. He wants the punong barangays to lead the clean-up activities to ensure the participation of the residents.

Tre?as will also send letters to all the principals of public elementary and secondary schools to discuss the threat brought about by dengue in all parents and teachers association (PTA) meetings. The discussion about dengue in the school will help the parents as well as the school children understand the dreaded dengue virus and the importance of pro-active measures.

The mayor will also send communication to all parishes and church-based organizations relative to the dengue preventive measures. He will request that priests will include in their homilies the importance of cleanliness in the fight against dengue which continually claimed lives.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Philippines: Dengue cases 2009

Source: http://www.mindanews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6663&Itemid=151

Sunday, 12 July 2009
Dengue claims 10 lives in Valencia PDF Print E-mail
by Walter I. Balane/MindaNews
Saturday, 11 July 2009
MALAYBALAY CITY (MindaNews/11 July) ? Two children died this week of dengue in Valencia City, bringing to 10 the death toll among 200 cases since the start of the year, officials from the Valencia City Health Office said. Eight of the 10 died in the last three months as local health officials battle the mosquito-borne disease with both preventive and control strategies in the city that has topped Bukidnon?s dengue-prone areas in the last 10 years.

Jovencio San Mateo, Valencia City dengue coordinator, announced on radio station DXDB that more than half of the 200 cases was traced to residents in the city?s poblacion barangay.

San Mateo told MindaNews last March that two persons of the then 67 cases of dengue in the city, died.

San Mateo said they have recommended for the declaration of a dengue outbreak in two villages where transmission has been considered high.

San Mateo identified the two villages as Purok 16, Gawad Kalinga, Bagonta-as and Purok 4 in Barangay Barobo.

Villa Rezon, CHO sanitary inspector, said they consider dengue as a top priority. But she said they recognize that the cases were expected to increase this year following a three-year cycle observed by local dengue control officials.

San Mateo explained that they recommended the two villages because transmission there has been fast in last two weeks. In the case of poblacion barangay, he noted that the more than a hundred cases there have been ?staggered? in occurrence.

He said the cases in downtown Valencia City appeared to be high because the population in the area is also high.

But he admitted it is already dengue season, although he added they have not anticipated dengue cases to rise this high at this time.

San Mateo announced their preventive and control campaign around the city. He said June is dengue awareness month.

San Mateo said people in the poblacion can easily run to the city?s hospitals for medication.

It is in the barangay, he said, that mortality rate is higher because they resort to traditional healing methods or self healing.

But he said dengue statistics cannot be compared in the two areas.

Meanwhile, Marsman Dinamling, an aide at the Office of the Malaybalay City Malaria/Dengue Coordinator, said the city only has 10 confirmed cases of dengue from January to May 2009.

Romeo Sulit, provincial field operations officer of the Department of Health office in Bukidnon, told MindaNews earlier that over the last 10 years, Valencia City consistently has the most number of cases throughout the province.

He also cited an observation that the total number of cases of dengue infection rise in a three-year cycle due to the level of vigilance of the public.

Citing it as the second year, he said they had approximately 1,400 cases in 2007. It went down to 280, or 80 percent down, in 2008.

Sulit said they are indeed expecting an upsurge of cases in 2009 that?s why they have alarmed the public about it during their information, education, and communication campaigns.

He said the present number of cases is alarming. He cited that the surge in transmission is common towards the end of summer and will peak from June to July.

He has likewise called on the public to clean up and never to relax in the fight against dengue. (Walter I. Balane / MindaNews)

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Philippines: Dengue cases 2009

Source: http://www.thenewstoday.info/2009/07/14/bacolod.cho.records.3.dengue.deaths.html

Bacolod CHO records 3 Dengue deaths
By Serge C. Santillan

BACOLOD CITY -- The Bacolod City Health Office reported another casualty of dengue, bringing it to three since January this year.

The latest was a 5-year-old boy from Barangay Estefania, Bacolod City who succumbed to dengue fever Wednesday last week.

The two other victims, who died early this year, were a 10-month old baby from Vista Alegre, and a 5-year-old girl from Handumanan.

The number of reported dengue cases as of July 4 is 412, while the total number of cases in 2008 was 462, with four recorded deaths.

City Health Officer Dr. Salome Bi?as yesterday said they are intensifying their campaign in the barangays against the spread of dengue especially because the number of cases is expected to rise during the rainy season.

People are urged to empty stagnant water from old tires, trash cans, and flower pots. People are also advised to wear long pants and long sleeves.

For personal protection, use mosquito repellant sprays that contain DEET when visiting places where dengue is endemic. Limiting exposure to mosquitoes by avoiding standing water and staying indoors two hours after sunrise and before sunset will help.

The Aedes aegypti mosquito is a daytime biter with peak periods of biting around sunrise and sunset. It may bite at any time of the day and is often hidden inside homes or other dwellings, especially in urban areas.

Bi?as also asked the public to observe cleanliness and rid their surroundings of breeding places of mosquitoes.

CHO records revealed that cases of dengue started to rise within the first two weeks of June, CHO Statistician Warlito Vallente said.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Philippines: Dengue cases 2009

Source: http://www.visayandailystar.com/2009/July/15/negor1.htm

IN NEG.OR.
Dengue cases increase
BY JUDY F. PARTLOW

The number of dengue cases reported in Negros Oriental since January this year has risen by 32.6 percent over last year?s figures for the same period, the Department of Health office in the province said.

Dr. Socrates Villamor, provincial DOH team leader, said the latest report on July 8 showed that 574 dengue patients have been admitted to the three tertiary care hospitals in Dumaguete City.

In the same period last year, the DOH recorded only 436 cases.

Two dengue-related deaths were also reported this year, one each from the towns of Valencia and Basay.

Dumaguete had the highest number of dengue cases at 227, followed by Tanjay City, 73; Sibulan, 59; Bayawan, 30; Mabinay, 17; Bais City, 16; Amlan and Ayungon towns, 14 each; and Manjuyod and Valencia, 13 each.

The increase in the number of dengue cases is expected with the onset of the rainy season as the virus is being transmitted between humans via a mosquito vector, the Aedes Aegypti, and Aedes Albopictus.

But Villamor also expressed concern that, with the changing weather patterns, there is no longer a definite ?rainy season? in the country, which means, that dengue cases could occur even during the summer months.

The dengue carrier mosquito is endemic to Negros Oriental, therefore, local government units and the general public must take the necessary preventive measures to counter the rise in dengue cases.

Foremost is to eradicate the breeding places of mosquitoes, Villamor said. He also advised students to apply mosquito repellants or wear long pants at school, if possible.

The dengue mosquito is a low-flying insect that appears mostly during late afternoon or early morning.

Another precaution is the use of mosquito nets, but this is a last option as it is very costly, Villamor added.*JFP

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Philippines: Dengue cases 2009

Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breaki...0719-216219/Dengue-deaths-in-W-Visayas-double

Dengue deaths in W. Visayas double

By Nestor P. Burgos Jr.
Inquirer Visayas
First Posted 17:37:00 07/19/2009


ILOILO CITY, Philippines -- Health officials in the Western Visayas region have heightened their campaign against cases of dengue fever amid an increase in the number of peope falling ill and dying of the disease in 2009.

The Department of Health?s Center for Health Development (DoH-CHD) reported that 24 persons died due to dengue infection from January to July 11, 2009.

This is more than double the 11 fatalities reported in the same period in 2008.

The total number of cases has also increased by 24 percent from 1,491 to 1,515 this year.

"We have called the attention of all stakeholders, especially the local government units and communities. We must do something about this because the cases are still increasing," regional epidemiologist Doctor Jessie Glen Alonsabe told the Philippine Daily Inquirer (parent company of INQUIRER.net) in a telephone interview.

Most of the cases were reported in Iloilo with 801, followed by Negros Occidental (551), Capiz (81), Aklan (43), Guimaras (33) and Antique (six).

Iloilo also accounted for most of the fatalities with 21 while Negros Occidental had two and Capiz had one.

More than half of the cases involved children aged 10 years old and below, according to the DOH-CHD in Western Visayas.

Dengue is a virus caused by the Aedes aegypti mosquito which causes a severe flu-like illness. The disease is potentially fatal but could be managed through early detection.

The symptoms of dengue fever are high fever, rashes, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, and muscle and joint pain.

It is mostly found in tropical and sub-tropical climates worldwide, mostly in urban and semi-urban areas.

Alonsabe said local government units, schools, village and neighborhood associations, and community leaders should heighten their campaign to clean communities and households of the potential breeding grounds of mosquitoes.

These include cleaning or emptying water containers or other objects such as empty tires, vases, bottles and pots that can accumulate stagnant water.


"It is better, easier and cheaper to locate these breeding places and eliminate the larvae of mosquitoes rather than use insect repellents for adult mosquitoes," Alonsabe said.

 

[Shiloh]

Re: Philippines: Dengue cases 2009

Source: http://www.thenewstoday.info/2009/07/20/iloilo.city.tops.dengue.fever.cases.in.w.visayas.html

July 20, 2009 Iloilo City, Philippines
Iloilo City tops Dengue fever cases in W.Visayas

By Maricar M. Calubiran

Dengue cases in Western Visayas have reached to 1,515 cases with 24 deaths recorded. Iloilo City has the most number of cases and deaths for the first seven months of the year. In Iloilo City, there are 447 cases with 16 deaths. The figures provided by the Department of Health (DOH) 6 covers from January to July 11, 2009.

The health department has identified three barangays in the city where most of the dengue cases occurred. They are barangays Sto. Nino, Arevalo; San Juan, Molo and Veterans Village, City Proper.

The number of dengue cases in the city tremendously increased in spite of the call of Mayor Jerry Tre?as to all the residents, barangay officials, private organizations, civic groups and the Church to help in the campaign. An executive order was handed down to 180 barangay captains in the city to implement a continuous clean up activities in their respective barangays to eliminate the breeding place of the mosquitoes carrying the dengue virus.

The chief executive wants a search and destroy operation of the mosquito breeding places to prevent the virus-carrying mosquito from spreading. He acknowledged the need to further strengthen the city?s action plan against dengue. He described dengue as more dangerous compared to influenza A(H1N1). The City Health Office (CHO) has formed a group to address the information campaign in the fight against dengue.

Last week, the mayor has reminded all the punong barangays of their action regarding the campaign against dengue as he stressed the importance of clean-up activities in driving off the mosquitoes.

In the DOH-6, report, Negros Occidental followed Iloilo City with 346 cases with two deaths; Iloilo province, 333 cases with five deaths; Bacolod City 203 cases with no deaths; Capiz 80 cases with one death; Aklan 43 cases with no registered deaths; Guimaras with 33 cases with no deaths and the province of Antique with six cases and no deaths.

The DOH-6 came up with the total of 1,515 cases by summing up the 1,491 cases recorded in the entire region with the 24 recorded deaths.

The health department noted an increase of 24 percent in the dengue cases compared in 2008 of the same period. The age level of the dengue victims ranges from as young as three months old to 75 years old. Female victims comprised the most number of victims reaching to 54 percent.

The same DOH-6 report recommended regular clean-up drive and advised the parents or guardians of the victims to seek immediate medical intervention. A continuous surveillance and monitoring activities in all health facilities is also recommended.