21 dead, 4,345 down with dengue in Region 11: DOH
A total of 21 people died, while 4,345 other residents, mostly children, in the Davao Region were reported to have been afflicted with dengue from January 1 up to last Monday, August 5.
However, the number of dengue cases recorded in Davao so far has not yet breached the epidemic threshold, unlike seven other regions of the country where dengue epidemic has been declared.
This was bared by Dr. Abdullah B. Dumama Jr., Department of Health (DOH) assistant secretary (Asec) for Visayas and Mindanao during last Thursday’s USAPang KALUSUGAN in Davao City.
Asec Dumama said that dengue is not seasonal. It is, in fact, year round.
“The issue on dengue is not seasonal. Buong bansa na po ang affected ng dengue. Sino ho ba naman ang gustong magkaroon ng ganitong sitwasyon?,” Dumama said. “622 deaths in 2018 is not hype. 622 deaths is real,” he added.
Earlier, Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III stressed the importance of a declaration of a national epidemic in certain areas to identify the needed localized response.
According to data, seven out of the country’s 17 regions have exceeded the epidemic threshold of dengue.
The regions are: Region IV-A (CALABARZON) with 16,515 cases; MIMAROPA with 4,254; Region V (Bicol) with 3,470; Region VI (Western Visayas) with 23,330; Region VIII (Eastern Visayas) with 7,199; Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula) with 12, 317; and Region X (Northern Mindanao) with 11,455 cases.
The DOH says Region 11 is still at the Alert Threshold Level and not Epidemic Alert Threshold. Other regions exceeded the alert threshold level, such as Region I (Ilocos) with 4,396 cases; Region VII (Central Visayas) with 10,728; and BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) with 2,301.
“We acknowledge the fact that DOH alone cannot do it. We need everybody’s help. We need everyone to be involved,” Dumama said.
The DOH official urged everyone to participate in the ABKD (Aksyon Barangay Kontra Dengue) Sabayang 4 o’clock Habit para Deng-Get Out.
“STOP at 4 o’clock, LOOK sa loob at sa labas ng bahay para mag “Search abd Destroy” ng mga posibleng pamugaran ng lamok and LISTEN sa mga barangay officials para sa tamang paraan ng pagsugpo ng dengue sa inyong lugar.”
Secretary Duque urged local government units to use their Quick Response Fund (QRF) to adress the epidemic situation.
Dengue Prevention and Control Program Coordinator Engr. Antonietta P. Ebol said that for Region 11, a total of P4.1 million has been given as cash and in-kind assistance.
Assistance include insecticides (P2,778,030.52), larvicide (P1,163,180) and supplies (P252,225). Ebol said, the DOH has also distributed nets to different barangays.
DOH 11 reported the following as dengue cases by provinces in Region 11 (2019): Compostela Valley – 788 cases with 1 death, Davao City – 2,168 cases with 11 deaths, Davao del Norte – 562 cases with 6 deaths, Davao del Sur – 151 cases with 1 death, Davao Occidental – 35 cases with 1 death and Davao Oriental – 641 cases with 1 death.
Davao City reported dengue hotspot includes Buhangin, Talomo (North, Central and South), Agdao and Sasa.
