Dengue cases in Central Luzon up by 12%

By Carlo Lorenzo J. Datu

Wednesday 4th of July 2012

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, July 4 (PIA) -- The Department of Health-Center for Health Development-3 (DOH-CHD3) recorded a 12-percent surge in dengue cases in Central Luzon from January to June 30 this year compared to the same period last year.

Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit chief Jesse Fantone said in a press conference in Pampanga on Monday that Central Luzon placed second with 6,241 cases to National Capital Region with the highest cases in the entire archipelago with around 8,000 cases.

Of the seven provinces, Nueva Ecija had the most number of cases at 1,785; Bulacan, 1,745 cases; Pampanga, 1,167; Bataan, 677; Tarlac, 488; Zambales, 348; and Aurora with 31 cases.

Fantone added that Region 3 had 11 deaths during the period; Nueva Ecija had five deaths; Pampanga, three; and the provinces of Bataan, Bulacan, and Tarlac with one each.

As the number of cases continue to rise, DOH-CHD-3 is urging the public to conduct clean-up drives in their communities and destroy all possible breeding sites of mosquitoes such as old tires and tin cans.

The agency emphasized the importance of cleaning not only homes and schools but also places like churches and markets as well as the streets and public playgrounds as you cannot pinpoint where one gets bitten by a dengue-carrying mosquito.

Dengue is a disease caused by the bite of Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is active during daytime. Headache, fever, muscle and joint pains, and skin rashes characterize the disease. In extreme cases, gums and nose may bleed. (WLB/CLJD-PIA3)