Two people have died of the dengue virus this month, bringing this year’s total number of deaths to five. {{more}}
Cristita Gloria, a surveillance officer of the Department of Health’s Regional Epidemiology & Surveillance Unit, said the fatalities this month came from the towns of Vallehermoso and Bacong town, adding to the previously recorded deaths from Guihulngan (January), Sibulan (May) and Canlaon City (July).
The total number of dengue cases recorded in the government and private hospitals in Negros Oriental stood at 594 cases as of Aug. 26.
With this scenario, health officials in Negros Oriental are calling on the public to improve their vigilance and exert more efforts to contain the rise in the number of dengue cases in the province.
Dr. Socrates Villamor, provincial team leader of the Department of Health, said majority of the dengue patients were from Dumaguete City with 143 cases from January to Aug. 26 but with Dumaguete had no reported deaths.
Although this year’s total dengue cases is still lower than last year’s 762, health authorities are saying that the number could still increase due to the rainy season, although it has not reached an alarming level yet, according to Villamor.
Villamor also confirmed that hospitals in Dumaguete are overflowing with patients, with some private hospitals already turning away admissions as they could no longer be accommodated.
Villamor said that aside from dengue, other usual diseases that are prevalent during the rainy season are diarrhea and flu, among others.
Canlaon, Vallehermoso and Guihulngan, meanwhile, are the focus of the provincial DOH’s monitoring and surveillance due to the upsurge of dengue cases over the past week, said Dr. Villamor.
Dr. Edgardo Barredo, chief of the Provincial Health Office-Field Health Services, said that he had requested mayors to direct health officers in the towns and cities to implement the 4S campaign against dengue.
The 4S include the search-and-destroy of the breeding grounds of mosquitoes; self protection by using mosquito netting and insect repellant, saying no to indiscriminate fogging as it does not guarantee total protection against mosquitoes, and seeking early consultation as soon as symptoms develop. (with PNA reports)
- Advertisement -