284% rise in dengue cases in CL

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines – The Department of Health (DOH) here has recorded a 284 percent surge in dengue cases, including 25 deaths, in Central Luzon from January to Aug. 6 this year compared to the same period last year.

DOH regional information officer Sherill Aure said the number of reported cases currently stands at 6,969 – one of the highest in the country.

Of the seven provinces in Central Luzon, Bulacan has the most number of recorded cases with 2,259, followed by Nueva Ecija with 1,666; Pampanga, 1,390; Tarlac, 736; Bataan, 525; Zambales, 350; and Aurora, 43.

Aure said the DOH’s Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit has reported a total of 25 deaths, with Bulacan, Nueva Ecija and Pampanga registering five deaths each.

Earlier, DOH Assistant Secretary Enrique Tayag said a dengue vaccine developed by a French firm has been tested on some 2,000 children in Laguna last month and was found to be effective. He said clinical trials were also done in Cebu City.

Tayag revealed this during the 10th Blood Galloner Awards held in Malolos City, Bulacan earlier this month.

Since the long-awaited dengue vaccine may yet be publicly available in 2014, Tayag said the public must continue to observe the usual precautions against the mosquito-borne ailment that has led to many deaths over the years. 

Still, Tayag, also the chief of the National Epidemiology Center, said the vaccine still has to pass evaluation and more tests before its target release in 2014.

He encouraged voluntary blood donations all over the country for the needs of victims of dengue, which the World Health Organization has described as the “fastest emerging arboviral infection” in the world. Blood transfusion is needed in severe cases. – With Sheila Crisostomo