EV records 37 dengue deaths this year, 882% higher than same period last year

By Philippine Information Agency (PIA 8)
July 12, 2010

TACLOBAN CITY  –  There are already thirty seven people in Eastern Visayas who have died due to dengue, the Department of Health Region 8 informed.

There is already a total of 3,862 cases of dengue with 37 deaths that have been recorded across Eastern Visayas from January to July 3 of this year, Mr. Boyd Cerro, the sentinel nurse of DOH Region 8 said.

Of the 3,862 cases reported, the biggest number of cases came from Tacloban City which has already a total of 1,014 cases.

Although the local health authorities admitted that they are alarmed over the increase in dengue deaths in the Region, they said that there is no reason to declare a dengue outbreak. There is only clustering of cases, they said.

The DOH 8 have issued a dengue alert to all health officers in the Region because of the onset of the rainy season. In fact in June, the Health Department conducted Dengue Caravan in all the provinces of the Region.

Mr. Cerro said that health workers have also been advised to constantly remind communities of the dangers of dengue.

He said that based on the DOH 8 assessment, the increase in dengue cases is largely attributable to the communities' neglect of the health department's advisory for the prevention of dengue.

Earlier, the Department of Health Region 8 Director made repeated appeals on the local government units especially the barangay officials to again conduct surveillance of the breeding places of mosquitoes in their communities, and the sustained cleaning of the surroundings and every respective homes must clean their own homes and surroundings.