17 die of dengue in Region 12 since Jan. 1
HEALTH • 21:15 PM Sat May 4, 2019
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By:
Edwin O. Fernandez
Aedes aegypti is a small, dark mosquito with white lyre shaped markings and banded legs. (Google)
KORONADAL CITY – The Department of Health in Region 12 (Soccsksargen) has reported 17 deaths due to dengue since January 1 to April 20 this year.
Jenny Panizales, speaking for dengue prevention campaign of DOH-12, said during the same period, 4,631 patients have been hospitalized.
Panizales said the number of dengue patients is 159 percent higher as compared to the same period last year.
The Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit of DOH-12 noted that North Cotabato and South Cotabato had the highest number of fatalities due to dengue at seven a piece. Sarangani had three fatalities.
Panizales cited the RESU report that showed North Cotabato had the highest number of dengue patients at 1,613 followed by South Cotabato with 1,421.
Sultan Kudarat had 562 dengue patients while Sarangani had 450 and Gen. Santos City had 357. Cotabato City had 228.
Panizales said no deaths due to dengue were reported in the provinces of Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, Gen. Santos and Cotabato City.
Panizales said the 17 deaths recorded so far was alarming because during the same period last year, RESU-DOH only listed five fatalities.
Last year, North Cotabato had listed only 490 dengue cases as against this year’s 1,613. South Cotabato had 605 last year but leaped to 1,421 cases this year.
Sultan Kudarat reported 136 dengue cases in 2019 and this year it recorded 562 patients in the hospitals.
Sarangani had 214 patients last year while this year, the provincial health office reported 450 cases.
Gen. Santos City listed 220 cases last year while 357 patients have been hospitalized this year. Cotabato City had 228 dengue patients this year as against 125 last year.
“We maintain our interventions and programs to contain dengue upsurge,” Panizales said. “We even go out of our way to reach the vulnerable in the mountain villages,” she added.
RESU also listed Barangay Malalag of Maitum, Sarangani, Barangay Sto Nino, of Koronadal City and Barangay Dumadalig, Tantangan, South Cotabato as “hotspots” due to high dengue cases.
Royfrextopher Boholst, entomologist of DOH-12, said aside from DOH programs for dengue eradication, the local government units across the region have been implementing the control measures and interventions.
“We provided the necessary support to avert the upsurge of dengue cases,” he said in a statement.
Panizales said DOH is pushing for the implementation of “4S” or the Search and destroy, Secure self-rotection, Seek early consultation and Support fogging or spraying on mosquito breeding sites.
“We need the support of the public, especially in far flung areas,” Panizales said, adding that during the massive immunization conducted by DOH-12 front liners in remote communities, the parents have become responsive and cooperative.
“Before, they were reluctant due to the dengvaxia scare, but now, after our massive information drive, they are now active in bringing their children to village health stations for vaccination,” Panizales said in the vernacular.