PHO on alert over sudden rise of dengue cases

By February 15, 2018Headlines, News

AMID the controversy over the mass vaccination of Dengvaxia in the country, a sudden rise in the dengue cases in Pangasinan was noted.

The Pangasinan Provincial Health Office is on alert over reports that 200 cases alone were reported last week, resulting in 534 cases and two deaths for the period January 1 to February 5.

Dr. Ana De Guzman, provincial health officer, said the increase reflected a 300% increase of dengue cases this year as compared to the 140 cases last year of the same period.

The 10 areas under watch by the PHO are Urdaneta City (82 cases), Binmaley (40), Santa Maria (37), Lingayen (30), Mangaldan (29), Binalonan (26), Pozorrubio (24), Asingan (22), San Carlos City (22) and Bayambang (20).

De Guzman, however, was quick to deny that there is an epidemic of dengue since there are still no clustering of cases monitored at the moment.

PHO attributed the sudden rise of dengue cases to the frequent rain and residents neglected the practice of cleaning their environment particularly clearing possible breeding areas of dengue carrying mosquitoes.

PHO team and local sanitary inspectors noted the presence of bottles, cans and tires in creeks, canals and garbage dump areas full of rain water stored in the vicinity of houses of the victims.

De Guzman reminded the barangay officials to constantly clean their surroundings and remove and clear call possible breeding grounds of mosquitoes to avoid being infected by dengue.

She said the provincial government’s Kalusugan Caravan is continuously distributing treated mosquito nets and insecticides to barangays to control the prevalence of dengue carrying mosquitoes.

Meanwhile, De Guzman said PHO is also monitoring the health conditions of Pangasinenses who have been vaccinated with Dengvaxia in Metro Manila and Tarlac. So far, she said the identified persons who received the vaccine are in their homes and no symptoms of any illness have been noted. (Nora Dominguez)

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