Measles cases up 637 %, dengue cases down 31%

By July 15, 2019Headlines, News

DENGVAXIA SCARE STILL ON

LINGAYEN–Measles cases in Pangasinan ballooned to unprecedented 637 percent at 1,298 with nine deaths from January 1 to July 8 this year, compared to only 176 cases with one death for the same period last year.  

This was reported by the Provincial Health Office (PHO) that largely attributed the increase to the stigma created by the Dengvaxia scare last year and caused parents to panic and refuse to submit their children for vaccination.

The PHO report showed that not only children but also adults were afflicted and died of measles.

The nine deaths this year were two from Lanas, Mangaldan; Amanperez, Villasis; Calmay, Dagupan City; Caingal, San Carlos City; Germinal, Bolinao; Sobol, San Fabian; and Primicias, Bautista.

The lone fatality in Villasis was a 33-year old male, while the fatality in Bani was a 31-year old female. The youngest was a three-month baby girl from Bautista.

Of the 1,298 suspected measles cases registered provincewide this year, at least 197 were confirmed in laboratory examination as compared to only 19 confirmed cases over the same period last year.

Dr. Anna Ma. Teresa De Guzman, provincial health officer, recommended to Gov. Amado Espino III the resumption of the “I Love Pangasinan Kalusugan Karaban”, which was suspended last election, so public health education in the grassroots can be intensified and help erase the stigma created by the Dengvaxia scare.

The top 12 cities/municipalities under the PHO watchlist on measles are Dagupan City with 168 cases, San Carlos City, 113; Lingayen, 867; Calasiao, 84; Alaminos City, 75; Malasiqui, 67; Bugallon, 59; Binmaley, 55; Sta. Barbara, 46; Bayambang, 45; San Fabian, 44; and Umingan, 44.

The PHO renewed its call on parents to submit their children for measles vaccination at the nearest public health centers to save them from the deadly disease.

Meanwhile, dengue cases in the province declined  by 31 percent, or only 1,547 with two deaths from January 1 to July 8 this year, from  2.250 with eight deaths for the same period this year,  

Dr. De Guzman said the massive awareness of the people on the value of cleanliness and sanitation spurred massive cleanup as well as misting operations by municipal and city health offices were big factors for the decline.  

Since dengue is now an all-season disease, De Guzman told the Talakayan sa Kapitolyo that the PHO has been distributing treated mosquito nets that are also used to cover windows of school rooms to prevent mosquitoes from entering the classrooms.

The data culled from past records showed that most children with ages 5-9, 10-14, 1-4; and 15-19 are the most hit by dengue.

A dengue surveillance report of PHO revealed that the youngest dengue patient was a two-month baby while the eldest was an 84-year old woman

Top cities and municipalities placed by PHO under dengue watchlist are San Carlos City with 459 cases; Mangaldan, 404; Bayambang, 341; Calasiao, 305; Alaminos City, 254; San Fabian, 247; Sta. Barbara, 239; Malasiqui, 234; Binmaley, 225; and Lingayen, 201.

De Guzman said Barangay Alac in San Quintin town is being monitored closely by the town’s health office which registered 22 cases from June 7 to 30 to determine where the mosquitoes that cause dengue were coming from.

Residents of San Quintin earlier phoned the PUNCH and tagged a piggery as the source of flies and mosquitoes [pestering barangay residents. (Leonardo Micua)

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