DOH verifying dengue ‘upsurge’ in 2 other provinces

The Department of Health (DOH) is verifying reports that there is also an upsurge of dengue cases in two other northern provinces.

Dr. Vito Roque Jr., head of the Surveillance Unit of the DOH’s National Epidemiology Center, said they have received unconfirmed reports of dengue cases in San Miguel, Bulacan and Tadyan, Mt. Province.

"We are coordinating with epidemiologists there. But so far, we have not received any confirmation. We are still validating the reports," he said.

Roque reiterated that an increase in dengue cases can be expected anywhere in the Philippines because of the rainy season.

"Every rainy season, you can expect an increase in dengue cases. It has been proven since we started our surveillance in 1988. There are more cases during the wet-dry season than when there is flooding," he said.

According to Roque, floodwater washes away mosquito eggs, while during the wet-dry season, the eggs are able to breed in clean but stagnant water.

Under its anti-dengue program, the DOH is advising the public to eliminate cans, used old tires, flower vases and other items that could become breeding sites of dengue-carrying mosquitoes.

Roque said the rainy season in Mindanao starts in March or April unlike in Luzon and Visayas where it begins in July.

According to the DOH, a dengue upsurge in Mindanao was immediately curbed when local officials initiated a massive clean-up.

At present, the DOH is closely monitoring the situation in Gen. Tinio, Nueva Ecija because of an outbreak of dengue fever there recently.

Roque said disease experts are now conducting "active case finding" in Gen. Tinio to ensure that those who are afflicted with dengue would receive appropriate and immediate treatment.

Meanwhile, Bulacan health authorities have stepped up their efforts to avert a dengue outbreak after a teenager died of hemorrhagic fever in Barangay Sampaloc, San Rafael town.

Ma. Cecilia Yacob, provincial information officer, said they would carry out fogging and clean-up operations in the towns of San Miguel, San Ildefonso and San Rafael. — With James Mananghaya