Bicol dengue cases down by 19% in 2009

by MA Loterte and N Mediavillo

Legazpi City (26 October) — Dengue cases in the Bicol region went down by 19 percent this year compared to the incidence recorded last year, the Department of Health (DOH) Bicol regional office here.

Dr. Camilo Aquino, DOH Bicol Dengue Monitoring regional coordinator, bared from January to October this year the agency recorded a total of 498 cases compared to 616 cases on the same period last year.

For the entire 2008, according to Aquino, DOH Bicol monitored a total of 690 dengue cases in the entire region, with 6 deaths.

For this year, the agency documented two fatalities, one from the municipality of Pioduran, Albay and the other from Naga City in Camarines Sur.

Breakdown of recorded cases has shown that Camarines Sur topped the list with the most number of dengue infection with 191, followed by Albay with 14, Sorsogon with 8, Camarines Norte and Masbate with 2 cases each, while Catanduanes with nil.

Last year, Camarines Sur had 381, Albay 108, Sorsogon 78, Masbate 64, Camarines Norte 31, and Catanduanes 28.

Aquino underscored the decline of dengue cases by 19 percent in the region only manifested that the campaign against this dreaded disease was carried out effectively, giving credit to the 4S strategies recommended by DOH Sec. Francisco Doque III.

These 4S strategies include: search and destroy, seek early consultation, say no to indiscriminate fogging, and self protection.

Aquino also reiterated that residents should continue to practice the 4:00 o’clock habit that will ensure cleanliness in the households’ surroundings, furthermore, barangays should mobilize their dengue brigades to monitor anti-dengue drives in their respective villages.

In Naga City, the city government has turned over Thursday (October 22) an initial of 242 rolls, with each roll measures 25 meters long, of impregnated curtains to several schools within the city as part of the dengue prevention and control drives.

Aquino said the curtains will be installed in the windows to prevent mosquitoes from going into the classrooms and can be used up to 5 years.

The project, costing some P2.4 million, is a joint undertaking of the local government, Department of Education (DepED), Department of Health (DOH) and World Health Organization (WHO). (PIA V/RNB)