TUGUEGARAO CITY -- The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has transferred 82 dengue patients -- 59 adults and 23 children -- from the island town of Itbayat to Basco, Batanes, from July 7- 11.
PCG Commandant, Adm. Elson Hermogino, ordered the deployment of the PCG Islander plane after receiving reports of a dengue outbreak in Itbayat from Batanes Governor Marilou Cayco.
The PCG Islander undertook six medical mission flights from the island-town to the Batanes Provincial Hospital in Basco after evacuation of the patients by boat was no longer possible because of the weather, Hermogino said in a media statement.
Lt. Erick Gacasa, head pilot of the PCG Islander, said majority of the patients are elderly and children and some were in critical condition and needed immediate attention.
He added that PCG is still on standby and ready to go back to the Batanes airport once the weather improves.
The Coast Guard might also bring blood supply from Manila to the Batanes Provincial Hospital, he added. (PNA)
