THE Province of Guimaras has declared an outbreak of dengue hemorrhagic fever.
Governor Samuel Gumarin signed Executive Order 36 Friday, July 12, declaring
an outbreak of the Aedes-borne disease in the island.
The rise of dengue cases to 493 with two deaths from January to July 6, 2019, prompted the governor to take action.
Guimaras recorded a 1,046.5 percent increase of dengue cases from January to July 6 this year, compared to the same period last year.
Dengue cases in the island recorded this 2019 have exceeded the epidemic threshold, based on the data of the Provincial Health Office Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit.
The Municipality of Jordan recorded the highest number of cases with 153, while the town of Buenavista has 109.
Ninety-three cases were reported in Nueva Valencia, 72 in Sibunag, and 66 in San Lorenzo.
Twenty-one barangays were identified to have clustering of dengue cases where three or more dengue victims were recorded in each barangay.
Along with the declaration of dengue outbreak, Gumarin ordered the creation of the Dengue Crisis Management Task Force to spearhead the response of the Provincial Government of Guimaras to suppress the rise of dengue cases.
Gumarin also directed the Dr. Catalino G. Nava Provincial Hospital, Buenavista Emergency Hospital, Nueva Valencia District Hospital, all rural health units, municipal health offices and the Provincial Health Office and personnel to be vigilant and extend free services and assistance to all patients with dengue.
The governor also ordered all barangays of the province to strengthen their clean-up drive in the community to destroy the breeding places of mosquitoes carrying the dengue virus.
The villages were also advised to strictly adhere to the 4 o'clock Habit that mobilizes communities to search and destroy mosquito-breeding places.
The blood donation drive has also been heightened to ensure enough supply of blood in the province amid the rise of dengue cases. (PR)