High dengue cases alarm Ormoc officials

ORMOC CITY, Philippines — The City Health Department in this city has recorded rising dengue cases with 1 death for the month of June.

CHD Chief Nelita Navales said the delay of administering medical treatment for three days to the 8-year-old child proved fatal.

Navales however did not blame anybody as the parents tried very hard to bring the child to the doctor, but constant raining for three days which eventually caused flooding in Bgy. Lao where the family resides prevented them.

Navales also urges residents, school and barangay officials to be vigilant because of the high recorded incident of dengue cases this June.

"I have already dispatched medical teams to schools, barangays and in areas ideal for mosquito breeding to eliminate mosquito larvae and instructed health districts to monitor if there is a need for fogging to kill adult mosquitoes too", she said.

Among the susceptible areas are the flood prone barangays of San Isidro, Lao, Linao and Tambulilid, which also have large populations.

In the last five years, Ormoc only has 120 maximum dengue cases after reaching the peak month of September.

As early as June this year, however, 103 cases were already recorded, and this prompted the city health department to implement immediate action.

Navales also warned of other life-threatening ailments and bacteria-carrying flies that should not be taken for granted.

"While dengue-carrier mosquitoes thrive during rainy season, let us not forget that other life threatening illness such as upper respiratory tract infection, food and water-borne diseases also abound during these months. It is in this context that a campaign to consume only clean and well-cooked food and potable water is also in place," she said.