Valenzuela City authorities have launched an intensified drive against dengue fever following an alarming 90 percent rise in dengue cases during the first 19 days of January 2008 as compared to the same period last year.
Valenzuela City authorities have launched an intensified drive against dengue fever following an alarming 90 percent rise in dengue cases during the first 19 days of January 2008 as compared to the same period last year.
Dr. Eric Tayag, director of the National Epidemiologist of the Department of Health (DoH), said Valenzuela City recorded 25 dengue cases from Jan. 1 to 19, or a 90 percent rise from the same period in 2007.
Most of the stricken dengue victims are from Rincon and Gen. T. de Leon villages in Valenzuela.
Valenzuela epidemiologist Manuel Mapue has expressed alarm over the rising cases of dengue in the city.
He started a door-to-door campaign, urging city residents to make sure their respective surroundings are clean so that vector-carrying dengue mosquitoes would be deprived of breeding places.
Mosquitoes breed in empty bottles, old tires, flower vases, cans and other containers whether they are clean or not.
Since last year, health authorities had declared dengue a year-round threat, not just during the rainy season.
Early this week, the DoH launched its anti-dengue national campaign for 2008, primarily in Metro Manila where dengue cases posted a 211 percent increase during the first 12 days of January this year compared to the same period in 2007.
This campaign will also be simultaneously launched in the regions, particularly those with high dengue cases.
Metro Manila reported 380 dengue cases from Jan. 1-12 this year, including five deaths.
The city of Manila registered the highest with 96 cases from Jan. 1 to 12 this year. There were only 35 cases during the same period last year.
Caloocan City has reported 51 dengue cases from Jan. 1 to 12, as compared to only 16 during the same period in 2007 while Quezon City has recorded 29 during the first 12 days in January this year as compared to only eight in 2007. PNA
Source: http://www.tribune.net.ph/metro/20080125met1.html
