IT APPEARS that the City of Stars is not only gathering celebrities but also mosquitoes as figures from the health department showed that Quezon City has the highest number of dengue cases in the National Capital Region (NCR).
Several bishops who were bothered by the increasing number of dengue cases called on the faithful to help fight the dreaded disease.
Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales urged the public to start cleaning their areas since a clean surrounding would help stop the spread of the sickness.
Based on the data from the National Epidemiology Center (NEC), there are 1,366 dengue cases recorded in Quezon City from January 1 to August 14.
The figure though is only three percent higher than the 1,322 cases recorded during the same period last year.
Of these cases, 15 were not able to survive the disease, which is eight cases lower than the 23 deaths last year.
NEC data showed there are 24 villages in Quezon City found with clustering of cases, namely North Fairview, Commonwealth, Nagkaisang Nayon, Bagbag, Batasan Hills, Pasong Tamo, Sauyo, Bagong Silangan, Bahay Toro, Culiat, Sta. Monica, Kaligayahan, UP Campus, Gulod, Baesa, Project 4, San Bartolome, Payatas, Bagong Silang, Payatas A, Tandang Sora, Bagong Pag-Asa, Novaliches, and Talipapa.
The whole of Metro Manila had a total of 4,744 cases, which is 22.51 percent lower than the 6,122 cases recorded last year.
Aside from Quezon City, other Metro cities with the highest number of dengue cases are the City of Manila (702 cases), Caloocan City (521), Valenzuela City (350), and Navotas City (301).
Completing the list are Malabon City (237), Mandaluyong City (212), Marikina City (188), Pasig City (167), Pasay City (141), Parañaque City (139), Makati City (127), Taguig City (94), Las Piñas City (82), Muntinlupa City (58), San Juan City 46), and the Municipality of Pateros (13).
Asked why Quezon City is constantly among the areas with highest number of dengue cases, Department of Health-Emerging and Re-Emerging Diseases Unit Manager Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy said this may be because of the high number of residents.
“Baka talagang madami tao sa Quezon City kasi,” said the health official in an interview, adding that it could be because of the good surveillance system in the city too.
The DOH has been calling on the public to engage in active search and destroy method of mosquito-breeding sites, seeking self-protection and early treatment once they manifest dengue symptoms.
Clean our surroundings
With the dengue cases reaching unexpected numbers, bishops are asking the public to observe cleanliness.
“Let’s clean our surroundings,” said Manila Archbishop Rosales.
Caloocan Bishop Deogracias Iniguez also asked barangay officials to include the parishes in their anti-dengue drive campaigns.
“I informed them about it and they said they’ll include the Church in their drive,” he said.
Iniguez added that barangay heads gave him their assurance during a workshop last Tuesday. (AMN/FP/Sunnex)