Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Health office to confirm new dengue fever strain
MANILA -- The Department of Health (DOH) has yet to confirm reports that a new strain of dengue fever is now in the country while the number of Filipinos afflicted with the mosquito-borne virus continues to climb.
Dr. Eric Tayag, DOH-National Epidemiology Center chief, said St. Luke's Medical Center has reported finding type 3 dengue fever strain from the blood samples they received from their patients.
Tayag said hospital officials are yet to confirm their findings that a type 3 strain was noted from the blood samples of their patients.
The health official said there are four strains of dengue fever namely Type 1, 2, 3 and 4 but the second one is the virulent.
The current type experienced in the country since year 2005 is type 1 but the health department expects a new type in 2008 since hemorrhagic dengue fever has a three year cycle.
But pending confirmation of the new strain, the health department reported on Monday that in a span of two days dengue fever cases have increased by more than a thousand.
Records showed that as of September 22, 15,635 dengue cases were reported and monitoring as of September 25 recorded 16,937 cases nationwide.
However, Tayag said the cases this year, placed at 16,932 covering the period from Jan. to Sept. this year, is still 37 percent lower than the 26,996 dengue cases recorded in 2005.
Deaths due to dengue were also lower. There were 330 dengue fatalities last year compared to 213 as of last September 16.
"Because of the awareness of the public about dengue fever, many still go to hospitals if they observe its symptoms on their children but we have reports that one out of six suspected dengue fever patients were found negative of the disease," he said.
He said the National Capital Region (NCR) still had the highest number of cases at 5,490 or an increase of 47.5 percent from the 3,721 recorded during January to September last year.
Central Luzon is second with 1,995 dengue cases while Central Visayas is third with 1,962 cases, Tayag said.
He said the bulk of the cases in the NCR are still in Quezon City, especially Payatas, Commonwealth, Tatalon, Tandang Sora, Holy Spirit and in Novaliches while clustering of cases was observed in Mandaluyong City, particularly in Welfareville compound, where the National Center for Mental Health is located.
"We should continue to be vigilant and not complacent to fully contain dengue," Tayag said.
"Complimentary treatments" such as drinking so-called "magic water", papaya juice and milk are not recommended by the DOH to re-hydrate the dengue patients.
Tayag added that keeping the surroundings safe is the best way to thwart the spread of the disease but indiscriminate fogging should be discouraged unless the breeding ground is identified.
Aedes Aegypti, the transmitter of the disease is a day-biting mosquito that lays eggs in clear water container, such as flower vases, cans, rain barrels, old rubber tires, etc. The adult mosquitoes rest in dark places of the house.
The health department's website, www.doh.gov.ph, describe dengue hemorrhagic fever as an acute infectious viral disease usually affecting infants and young children.
It is characterized by fever during the initial phase and other symptoms like headache, pain in the eye, joint pain, muscle pain, and other pain, followed by signs of bleeding such as petechiae (red tiny spots on the skin), nose bleeding and gum bleeding.
If there is blood in the stools and/or blood in the vomitus and accompanied by shock, this is called Dengue Shock Syndrome and is often fatal. (Sunnex)
(September 26, 2006 issue)
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