Dengue Cases Update
July 4, 2015
BAGUIO CITY – Residents are urged to stick to the 4 o’clock clean-up habit as the rainy days approach, to halt the spread of Dengue-carrying mosquitoes in water-logged breeding places.
The appeal was often mentioned during earlier Ugnayan forums; Alay Sa Kalinisan (ASKI), and Punong Barangay meetings with Mayor Mauricio Domogan, city and regional health authorities.
Data from the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU) of the Health Services Office (HSO) present a 33% increase, from 100 cases in January – June 2014 to 133 cases in January – June this year.
In January this year, there were 21 Dengue cases, 15 in February, 7 in March, 8 in April, 17 in May and 60 cases in June.
There were 305 recorded Dengue cases in Baguio City for 2009, 1161 in 2010, 485 in 2011, 715 in 2012, a record high of 1866 in 2013, and 377 in 2014.
Cases increase in June and July, peaks in August and tapers off in September and October towards the cold and dry months.
Generally, there were more males bitten than females, and those aged 10 to 29 years are bitten more than those older. Those from age one to nine years old and 30 to 39 are also more susceptible to bites of the dengue-carrying mosquitoes.
Records from Baguio government and private hospitals show that there were 516 Dengue cases in Baguio City for 2009, 1882 in 2010, 959 in 2011, 1440 in 2012, a high of 3196 in 2013 and 649 in 2014. It may be noted that patients in the city include those from Rizal, Pampanga, Davao del Sur, Cavite, Bulacan, Bataan, Zambales, Laguna, Cagayan, Apayao, Aurora, Ilocos Norte, Quirino, National Capital Region, Isabela, Tarlac, Ilocos Sur, Nueva Vizcaya, Nueva Ecija, La Union, Pangasinan and Cordillera provinces.
As to the Department of Health (DOH), the 4 o’clock habit strategy focuses on the stop, look and listen strategy: stop – shift task for mosquito control, look – search and eliminate mosquito breeding places, and listen – heed instructions for the synchronized implementation of the 4 o’clock habit.
Dengue is spread mostly through bites form either the female Aegis aegypti, A. albopictus and other mosquito species. Though rarely, it may also be spread through blood products and organ donations.
The symptoms after an incubation period which may last for 7 days, fever, headache behind the eyes, muscle and joint pains and skin rash. There may be nausea, vomiting, and bleeding from body openings. Dengue may also cause organ dysfunction, and if untreated, death. Residents who have the symptoms are advised to report to health authorities at the Baguio Health Department, t. Alonzo st, Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center, DOH or any of the nearest hospital.
Health authorities; HSO head Dr. Rowena Galpo, CESU head Dr. Donabel Tubera issued the appeal for clean-ups and vigilance against diseases during the Dengue day press conference June 11./Julie G. Fianza
