LINGAYEN – The dreaded dengue hemorrhagic fever has already claimed nine lives in different towns and cities in this province since July to date.

Records of the Provincial Health Office showed there were three fatalities, one each in the towns of Basista, Sison and Alaminos City in the month of July.

From Aug 1 to 16, six reportedly died in Lingayen, Calasiao, Bayambang, San Nicolas, Sison, and Dagupan City.

To date, there had been a total of 384 cases with 188 confirmed and 187 suspects.

However, Dr. Gloria Balboa, deputy regional director of the Department of Health, said the number has not reached the threshold level to warrant a declaration of an epidemic, adding   this year’s record is still way below last year’s but cautioned that health authorities  expect an increase in number of dengue victims during the period July to August.–EVA

No dengue outbreak

Meanwhile City Health Officer Dr. Leonard Carbonell said there is no dengue outbreak in Dagupan City.

Carbonell admitted that there are dengue fever cases in the city but not at an alarming level.

The city health officer clarified that the alleged dengue outbreak reported in Pangasinan earlier was a misinterpretation of the raw data gathered from hospitals by regional health officials.

“We are supposed to rely on the final diagnosis of patients suspected with dengue fever and not on raw data,” Carbonell said even as he pointed out that dengue fever is endemic in highly-urbanized areas, such as Dagupan City.

While Carbonell admitted that the cumulative cases of dengue in Dagupan this year is much higher than last year noting that there are 79 dengue cases in Dagupan compared to that of 49 cases last year for the period of January to August 15 this year, he said that the period July to August 15, considered the peak months for dengue, the city recorded only 12 dengue cases compared to last year’s 36 cases.

He said the highest number of dengue cases this year was recorded during the first quarter and went on to caution  the public not to be complacent even if it’s not rainy season because there are still many possible breeding places of mosquitoes inside houses.

The city health office is closely monitoring hospitals where there are patients suspected to be suffering from dengue.

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