Dengue cases rise in Cotabato village

KIDAPAWAN CITY -- At least 12 residents in a village in Makilala town in North Cotabato were hospitalized due to dengue, a village official said.

Cases were monitored in Barangay Kisante in Makilala from last week of September until first week of October, according to village chief Danilo Dante.

Of the patients, one of them died, a four-year-old boy, Dante said.

Five of the patients are still being treated in a hospital in town while the rest are considered out patients, he said.

Dante's own nephew, Ruben, was among those hospitalized due to dengue.

Also down with the virus were Michelle Limbaga, Julius Punay, Daisy Enolva, Ryan Aso, Leah Arombo Daren, Ruben Dante Jr., Christian Hope, Anamie Caa, Warlito Padian, Redjian Capuyan, and Christine Joy Caa, all residents of Barangay Kisante, Makilala.

Dante said one of the reasons for the spread of the disease is a blocked drainage canal located just few meters away from the populace.

Dante told media here that the number of dengue cases in his village alarmed local officials.

"Last year, we did not monitor a rise in dengue in our village. So, this is quite alarming," he said.

To address the problem, Dante has called on his constituents to do a “bayanihan” or community-led activities, which include cleaning of the blocked canals and other areas where dengue-carrying mosquitoes could thrive.