Dengue cases soaring high

LEGAZPI CITY --- Health authorities here have declared the provinces of Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, and Albay as Dengue hot spots due to the high incidence of the mosquito-borne disease, the Department of Health (DOH) in Bicol said yesterday.

The Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (RESU) of DOH here reported that at least 13 villages in Camarines Sur were affected by dengue disease, followed by Sorsogon with nine villages and Albay with six villages.

Dengue cases in Bicol have reached an alarming stage as 30 people, mostly children, were reported to have died due to the mosquito-borne disease while 2,660 fell ill, according to Dr. Ernie Vera, DOH regional director.

Vera said dengue incidence in Bicol so far posted an 84 percent surge for the period January to July this year, which involved 2,660 cases compared to the1,448 cases during the same period last year.

Camarines Sur has the highest number of cases with 1,113, followed by Albay with 524, Sorsogon – 477, Catanduanes -246, Masbate -170, Camarines Norte 128, and others – two.

Vera said that based on the disease trending applied by the epidemiologist, the incidence has not yet breached the dengue threshold and the four criteria being adopted to declare an outbreak.

Asked what interventions are being undertaken to prevent ossible outbreak, Vera said the cooperation of the community is much needed by carrying out a “synchronized” sanitation program and more aggressive implementation of the 4S strategy.

4S stands for Search and Destroy” mosquito breeding places, “Self-protection measures”, “Seek early consultation” for fever as early as one day, and “Say yes to fogging” as a last resort when there is an impending outbreak.