The Department of Health said the increasing number of cases is alarming in Baybay, especially in the villages of Zone 5, Pomponan, Hipusngo, and San Isidro.
“The city government
declared the health emergency to prevent the spread of this mosquito-borne
disease and possible outbreak by mobilizing all resources,” DOH regional information
officer John Paul Roca said in a mobile phone interview Wednesday.
Report from the city
health office said at least two four-year-old children died in Baybay early
this month. Last April, a six-year-old child succumbed to dengue.
Baybay, a city of
more than 109,000 is about 107 kilometers south of Tacloban, the regional
capital.
Last month, an
outbreak was also declared in Salcedo, Eastern Samar as dengue fever killed two
children and downed 67 others.
Roca said the entire
Eastern Visayas has reported a total of 1,947 cases with 16 deaths from January
to this week, which is 21 percent lower compared to last year.
Dengue fever is
marked by an onset of sudden high fever, severe headache, and pain behind the
eyes, muscles and joints. Some may develop rashes and varying degree of
bleeding from various parts of the body.
Since most victims
are schoolchildren, the major strategy to combat dengue is to conduct
prevention campaign with the Department of Education, parents, and community
leaders. This is on top of providing logistics to local health workers.
Other strategies of
the health department to combat rising cases are intensified mosquito control
efforts, coordination with local government units in information drive, conduct
of fogging and spreading larvicide in areas with clustering of cases,
installation dengue express lanes in hospitals, and purchase and preposition of
fluids. (SQM/PNA)
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