ILOILO – Of the 2,778 suspected dengue cases so far recorded this year by the Provincial Health Office (PHO) from Jan. 1 to June 15, 1,300 were children 10 years old and below while 946 more were between 11 to 20 years old. Eighty-seven cases were children less than one year old.
According to Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares Quiñon of the PHO, dengue cases are rising and the number of patients who died since January is now 15.
Of these deaths, 11 were below 13 years old.
“Gusto naton tani magamay lang ang kaso, indi na magdamo. The more kaso, the more chances of dying,” said Quiñon.
All age groups are affected, PHO data showed – 21 to 30 years old, 261 cases; 41 years old and above, 95 cases.
The 15 dengue deaths were in the following municipalities:
* Pototan – a 33-year-old woman and a six-year-old girl
* Concepcion – a four-year-old girl, a four-year-old boy, a 30-year-old man, and six-year-old boy
* Santa Barbara – a 70-year-old woman
* Pavia – a seven-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl
* New Lucena – a 32-year-old woman
* Bingawan – a nine-year-old boy and an eight-year-old girl
* Dueñas – a 12-year-old boy
* Banate – an 11-year-old girl and a 12-year-old girl
Last year from Jan. 1 to June 15, PHO recorded 394 dengue cases with two deaths only.
Quiñon said the most important measure in the 4S strategy to combat dengue is “search and destroy” or the destruction of the habitat of dengue mosquitoes Aedes egypti and Aedes albopictus that breed in clear, stagnant water.
“Kun may itlog da, in a week’s time maging lamok na ina,” said Quiñon.
She encouraged people, too, to practice “self-protection” – that is, wear clothes that do not expose the skin to mosquito bites, or use mosquito repellants.
PHO records showed the following areas to have the most number of dengue cases: Pototan (263), Passi City (261), Calinog (181), Concepcion (180), Ajuy (130), Santa Barbara (125), Pavia (104), Sara (96), New Lucena (89), Lambunao (76), Bingawan (75), Dueñas (70), and Banate (51).
Quiñon said people with dengue symptoms should immediately see the doctor. These symptoms include sudden high fever, severe headaches, pain behind the eyes, severe joint and muscle pain, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, skin rash which appears two to five days after the onset of fever, mild bleeding (such a nose bleed, bleeding gums, or easy bruising).
“Kon nagasuka kag nagasakit ang tiyan deretso na dayun sa mga ospital,” said Quiñon.
She assured dengue patients of immediate care in district hospitals.
“Libre ina kay naga-no balance billing kita. Indi magkabalaka sa balayran,” said Quiñon.
If there is clustering of cases (three or more cases for four consecutive weeks in a barangay), the PHO recommends discriminate fogging./PN
