(File photo courtesy of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
MALASIQUI, Pangasinan – The Ilocos Region has recorded 742 dengue cases from Jan. 1 to May 31 this year, almost 11 percent higher than the 664 cases logged on the same period last year, according to the Department of Health - Center for Health Development Ilocos Region (DOH-CHD-1).
In a virtual forum hosted by the Philippine Information Agency Ilocos Region on Thursday, DOH-CHD-1 medical officer Dr. Rheuel Bobis said of the total number of cases, 389 were from Pangasinan province, 35 from Dagupan City (chartered city of Pangasinan), 144 from La Union province, 59 from Ilocos Sur, and 115 from Ilocos Norte.
Nonetheless, the mortality rate due to dengue this year is lower with only one death compared to three deaths last year in the same period.
The reported death was in La Union.
“There is an increased risk due to increased exposure as restrictions have been eased as compared to last year,” Bobis said.
He said that based on their surveillance, most of the dengue patients were children below 10 years old.
Bobis urged the public to practice the "4S" in fighting dengue: destroy mosquito-breeding Sites, Secure self-protection measures, Seek early consultation, and Support fogging or spraying in areas with clustered cases.
“Dengue is an all-year-round disease but it usually increased in rainy season as there are a lot of breeding sites in the rainy season,” he said.
In Pangasinan, 10 cities and municipalities are under the monitoring of the Provincial Health Office (PHO) due to increasing cases.
These are the cities of San Carlos and Urdaneta, and the towns of Calasiao, Binmaley, Malasiqui, Bayambang, Umingan, Santa Barbara, Manaoag and Bugallon.
“We have been preparing since January this year. We conducted training by the Department of Health regional office for the rural health units in the province,” said PHO nurse Eugenio Carlos Paragas.
Dr. Cielo Almoite of the PHO Public Health Services said the express lanes in the 14 provincial government-run hospitals accommodate dengue cases. (PNA)
