Tuesday, July 17, 2007 Dengue in San Fernando not alarming, says DOH 7 By A DEPARTMENT of Health (DOH) 7 team will visit San Fernando town today to check on dengue cases there.
A DEPARTMENT of Health (DOH) 7 team will visit San Fernando town today to check on dengue cases there.
Dr. Expedito Medalla of the Health Emergency Management Staff (Hems) clarified, though, that the number of dengue cases in San Fernando is far from alarming.
The team will meet with the town’s health personnel and barangay officials.
As of July 7, San Fernando has recorded 15 dengue cases, according to the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (Resu).
But the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center recorded more dengue admissions from the town last week.
San Fernando is 29 kilometers south of Cebu City.
It is bordered by Naga to the north, which has been declared a hotspot since dengue reportedly claimed five lives in the town. Resu records though only reflect two deaths from dengue.
Outbreak
Six barangays in Naga’s neighbor to the north, Minglanilla, have also been declared to have a dengue outbreak. Seven children have already succumbed to the illness.
Medalla said there was one death over the weekend but the DOH 7 is still verifying if this was due to dengue.
He said that because it is dengue season, people are expected to blame dengue for every death.
The health office has yet to lift the declaration of a dengue outbreak in Barangays Tungkop, Tulay, Pakigne, Poblacion Wards 2, 3 and 4.
Medalla said Minglanilla continues to be “under observation,” especially since July is only the second month of the rainy season.
Talisay City was also declared a hotspot but the number of dengue cases there has not gone up.
The same goes for Mandaue City.
“Everything’s okay,” DOH 7 Director Susana Madarieta said of Mandaue. (JGA)
