State of calamity in Occidental Mindoro due to dengue

MANILA, Philippines — A state of calamity has been declared in the entire province of Occidental Mindoro as dengue cases continue to rise.

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan approved during its session yesterday the recommendation of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to declare a state of calamity as 10 of the 11 towns in the province recorded dengue cases. Only Looc remains dengue-free.

San Jose and Sablayan towns were placed under a state of calamity due to dengue two weeks ago.

Provincial health officer Dr. Teresa Tan said the declaration would allow the use of calamity funds to procure dengue kits and medicine, among other items, to address the surge in cases.

Occidental Mindoro recorded 2,093 cases with 11 deaths as of Aug. 8.

In Western Visayas, 50 deaths due to dengue were recorded.

Health officials said 597 new cases and four deaths were recorded from July 24 to 30.

A total of 8,647 cases were recorded since January, an increase of 543 percent compared to 1,345 during the same period last year.

In Pampanga, Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr. of Angeles City ordered fogging and misting in public schools to ensure the safety of students once face-to-face classes start on Aug. 22.

Sixteen of the 53 schools have finished fogging and misting operations, which started on Aug. 1. – Gilbert Bayoran, Ric Sapnu