THE City Health Office (CHO) said the decrease in blood platelets is not anymore the reason of dengue-related deaths, which is common before.
Instead, most deaths are now caused by shock, leading medical practitioners to wonder if we are now having a new strain of dengue.
A total of 3,064 cases of dengue and 19 deaths have been recorded by the CHO from January to July. While the cases are now decreasing and completely under control, city health officer Dr. Josephine Villafuerte admitted that the number of deaths increased.
"Going down ang cases pero tumaas ang deaths," she said in an interview on Thursday.
"This, among other related issues regarding dengue and malaria, will be discussed in a forum on Friday," Villafuerte added.
Along with the Davao Medical Society, the Department of Health in Davao Region and the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Inc., CHO will be holding MD Sona, a malaria- dengue health forum on Friday.
MD Sona is a forum by both public and private sectors that will present the current situation of the city regarding mosquito-borne diseases.
According to Villafuerte, they will identify the problems, formulate solutions as well as resolutions to prevent the spread of said diseases.
A new protocol on managing dengue and malaria will also be discussed on the forum that will be held on Friday, 3:30 p.m. at the Sampaguita Hall, Brokenshire Resort and Convention Center.
On the other hand, Villafuerte proudly presented the 200 mosquito nets and 100 mats donated Thursday by the Philippine Society of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (PSMID).
"The nets and the mats will be brought by our medical team to Sitio Mapula on August 23," she said. "Pero, kulang pa rin 'yun."
She added that the office is still expecting more donations from other organizations and companies such as ABS-CBN.
Meanwhile, Villafuerte assured that the 4 o'clock habit is still going on in barangays. "CHO is there in the communities to check on their needs," she said. "After cleaning up, we determine if they need fogging or (chemical) soaking."