ILOILO City – This year from Jan. 1 to May 16 the Department of Health (DOH) recorded 2,141 suspected dengue cases with three deaths in Western Visayas.
This was 74 percent lower than the figures – 8,110 cases with 54 deaths – recorded in the same period last year, according to Dr. Jessie Glen Alonsabe, epidemiologist of DOH Region 6.
Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection causing a severe flu-like illness that could sometimes be fatal. Its carriers are day-biting mosquitoes (Aedes albpictus and Aedes aegypti) that live and breed and clean, stagnant water.
Here’s the breakdown of this year’s suspected dengue cases:
* Aklan – 275 cases
* Antique – 102 cases with one death
* Capiz – 202 cases
* Guimaras – 35 cases
* Iloilo province – 401 cases
* Iloilo City – 147 cases with one death
* Negros Occidental – 786 cases with one death
* Bacolod City – 154 cases
* others – 39 cases (illness contracted outside Region 6 but patients confined in the region)
The age range of the dengue suspected cases were from one month old to 88 years old.
Alonsabe urged Western Visayans not to be complacent but continue practicing the 4S strategy against dengue – “search and destroy” mosquito breeding places; “self-protection” from mosquito bites; “seek early consultation” when signs and symptoms of dengue occur; and “say yes to fogging” as a last resort.
He also stressed the importance of personal hygiene, proper hand-washing and cough etiquette, pointing out the “overlapping” symptoms of dengue and influenza-like illnesses (ILI) such as fever.
“If anybody has fever, most especially children, go to the nearest health facility for proper screening,” said Alonsabe.
According to the World Health Organization, individuals should suspect dengue when a high fever (40 degrees centigrade) is accompanied by two of the following symptoms: severe headache, pain behind the eyes, nausea / vomiting, swollen glands, muscle and joint pains, and rashes.
For severe dengue, the warning signs to look out for are: severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, rapid breathing, bleeding gums, blood in vomit, fatigue, and restlessness.
For influenza-like illnesses, the more prominent symptoms are fever and cough.
In this city recently, Mayor Jerry Treñas warned it would be doubly difficult for the city government to fight two viruses at the same time. Thus while currently busy fending off the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), he has started moving to ward off a potential surge in dengue cases.
Last year from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, the city recorded 3,329 dengue cases with 16 deaths, at an attack rate of 701 per 100,000 population.
This resulted to hospitals bursting at the seams with patients. There was a shortage in hospital rooms, beds, doctors, and nurses.
The demand for blood (for blood transfusion to patients with severe dengue) also spiked.
Treñas recently tasked the City Health Office (CHO) to make sure the city’s 180 barangays are clean, that is, with no chance to harbor mosquitoes.
“We saw how difficult the situation was last year. Now that we are facing COVID-19, having dengue pa gid would be very difficult kay limitado ang aton hospitals,” said Treñas.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod declared a state of calamity due to dengue in July 2019./PN
