DOH reports more dengue deaths in Eastern Visayas

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 14 (PNA) –- Dengue fever cases have been rising sharply in Eastern Visayas this year, killing 32 people and afflicting 6,001 others as of this week, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

Roderick Boyd Cerro, chief of the DOH regional epidemiology and surveillance unit, said this year’s number of dengue fever cases is the highest in the past five years. In 2015, the region had only four deaths and 800 cases.

The Health department listed three more deaths last week in Ormoc City, Mondragon in Northern Samar, and Guiuan in Eastern Samar. Majority of victims are children below 10 years old.

“We were expecting a high number of this, because dengue cases usually rises in every three to four years and 2016 is the fourth year. There is a high possibility that those people who have not yet diagnosed in dengue will be diagnosed this time,” Cerro explained.

This week, there are 14 dengue patients still confined at the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC) for treatment.

The DOH expects that the number of dengue cases will go down during summer season next year.

“For areas with many dengue cases, our advice is to conduct fogging operation to kill any adult mosquitoes. This can be done once a week for three weeks to control the mosquito population,” Cerro added.

Other strategies of the DOH to combat rising cases are intensified mosquito control efforts, coordinate with local government units in information drive, conduct of fogging and larviciding in areas with clustering of cases, installing dengue express lanes in hospitals, and purchase and preposition of fluids.

Dengue fever is marked by an onset of sudden high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, and pain in muscles and joints. Some may also have a rash and varying degree of bleeding from various parts of the body.

Cerro urged those who suffer these symptoms to immediately seek consultation from local health workers to prevent deaths from this mosquito-borne disease. (PNA) LAP/Sarwell Q. Meniano & Lalaine S. Badilla (OJT)