DOH: Davao Region exceeds dengue alert threshold

DOH: Davao Region exceeds dengue alert threshold

THE Department of Health (DOH) said Davao is among the regions being monitored after exceeding the alert threshold or the number of dengue cases.

In a statement Monday, July 15, Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III declared a National Dengue Alert due to the rapidly increasing number of dengue cases in the country.

Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon, Bicol, Eatsern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Bangsamoro Autonomous in Muslim Mindanao, and Cordillera Administrative Region were also being surveyed for a potential outbreak.

Among the regions that have exceeded the epidemic threshold -- the critical number of cases required for an epidemic to be declared -- are Mimaropa, Western Visayas, and Northern Mindanao.

Duque said clustering of cases must be identified by the DOH regional office as a basis for declaring a localized epidemic at the barangay level.

A code blue alert has been activated by the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) through Undersecretary Ricardo Jalad of the Office of Civil Defense. He announced that DOH, as the lead agency, will be combining the NDRRMC Health cluster.

Duque said the dengue case has been observed to peak every three to four years. He reminded the public that early detection and proper case management can prevent deaths.

It was in 2016 when the high peak of dengue cases was observed, thus in 2019, the DOH is expecting dengue cases to rise dramatically.

Based on the DOH data from January 1 to June 29 this year, a total of 106,630 dengue cases have been recorded, while 57,564 cases were reported in the same period in 2018. This year's figure is 85 percent higher compared to last year's data.

The DOH said dengue is a disease that has no known vaccine or specific antibiotics. Effective surveillance can also help in reducing cases and deaths if areas with clustering of cases are identified early.

Signs and symptoms of the disease include severe headache, pain behind eyes, severe joint and muscle pain, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and skin rashes.

Amid the surge of dengue cases, Duque said the most effective way to prevent dengue is still the 4S strategy -- Search and destroy mosquito breeding places, Self-protective like wearing long sleeves and use of insect repellent, Seek early consultation on the first signs and symptoms of the disease, and Say yes to fogging if there is an impending outbreak.

"Dengue is preventable through the 4S strategy and early detection. Do the 4S and know its signs and symptoms," Duque said.

Earlier, the Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos) government declared a state of calamity due to dengue fever outbreak.

The Igacos CHO-Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit reported that 249 dengue cases were recorded from January to June this year.

The DOH-Davao said it will release data on dengue cases in region during a press conference Wednesday, July 17.

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