DOH: Dengue outbreak in Nueva Ecija town

The Department of Health (DOH) declared yesterday an outbreak of dengue fever in Gen. Tinio, Nueva Ecija where the mosquito-borne ailment has claimed the lives of three preschool children and downed 114 others in the past three weeks.

This is the first dengue outbreak this year. The DOH is actually expecting cases to peak from July to September due to the rainy season.

Undersecretary for Public Health Dr. Ethelyn Nieto said they are also monitoring the possible spread of dengue to the adjoining towns of San Leonardo, Gen. Natividad and Cabiao.

Nieto said a total of 237 dengue cases have been recorded throughout Nueva Ecija since last January.

Meanwhile, health experts denied reports of a meningococcemia case in Sta. Maria, Bulacan.

Dr. Joy Gomez, of the provincial public health office, cited laboratory findings of the San Lazaro Hospital that the suspected case, a one-year-old child, was found negative of the bacteria causing the deadly disease.

Gomez said there was no medical confirmation yet on the case of a seven-month-old baby, also from Sta. Maria. — With James Mananghaya and Ric Sapnu