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Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breaki...Zambo-City-beyond-epidemic-level-of-2005-2007
Dengue in Zambo City ?beyond epidemic level of 2005, 2007?
By Julie Alipala
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 15:22:00 04/12/2008
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines -- The Zamboanga City Health Office said the number of dengue cases here have gone so high this year that they surpassed the number of cases recorded during the first quarter of 2005 and 2007.
Dr. Rodelin Agbulos, city health officer, told the Inquirer on Friday that more people were still catching the mosquito-borne virus.
"The number of cases this year has reached beyond the epidemic level recorded in 2005 and 2007. The first quarter saw the highest number we have recorded," Agbulos said.
A bulletin issued by the local health office showed that 642 people were stricken during the first three months of the year.
"In 2005 when we declared a dengue outbreak, there were only 159 cases (for the same period) and last year, we had 144 cases from January to March," Agbulos said.
He said the increase by more than 400 percent compared to the 2005 data was alarming because it occurred "despite continuous efforts being done to address the problem."
Dr. Aristedes Tan, director of the Department of Health in Western Mindanao, said the big increase in the number of people being affected by dengue here was so alarming that health personnel have been doubling their efforts to combat the disease.
"We are (working hard) to control this outbreak," he said.
Tan said health workers? efforts to control the outbreak were being stymied by the erratic weather pattern and the lukewarm attitude of residents toward the campaign against dengue.
"We experience rain at night and (it is) extremely sunny and hot during day time. There is also the irregular community participation in the search-and-destroy operations for (mosquito) breeding sites. These slow down the decrease in the number of the cases," Tan said.
Dengue in Zambo City ?beyond epidemic level of 2005, 2007?
By Julie Alipala
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 15:22:00 04/12/2008
ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines -- The Zamboanga City Health Office said the number of dengue cases here have gone so high this year that they surpassed the number of cases recorded during the first quarter of 2005 and 2007.
Dr. Rodelin Agbulos, city health officer, told the Inquirer on Friday that more people were still catching the mosquito-borne virus.
"The number of cases this year has reached beyond the epidemic level recorded in 2005 and 2007. The first quarter saw the highest number we have recorded," Agbulos said.
A bulletin issued by the local health office showed that 642 people were stricken during the first three months of the year.
"In 2005 when we declared a dengue outbreak, there were only 159 cases (for the same period) and last year, we had 144 cases from January to March," Agbulos said.
He said the increase by more than 400 percent compared to the 2005 data was alarming because it occurred "despite continuous efforts being done to address the problem."
Dr. Aristedes Tan, director of the Department of Health in Western Mindanao, said the big increase in the number of people being affected by dengue here was so alarming that health personnel have been doubling their efforts to combat the disease.
"We are (working hard) to control this outbreak," he said.
Tan said health workers? efforts to control the outbreak were being stymied by the erratic weather pattern and the lukewarm attitude of residents toward the campaign against dengue.
"We experience rain at night and (it is) extremely sunny and hot during day time. There is also the irregular community participation in the search-and-destroy operations for (mosquito) breeding sites. These slow down the decrease in the number of the cases," Tan said.