GOVERNMENT INTENIFIES ANTI-DENGUE MEASURES TO COMBAT SURGES

July 6, 2024 Provincial

Dengue case, four deaths recorded

BAGUIO CITY

Dengue cases across the Cordillera Region posted an increase of 71 percent in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period last year, according to the Department of Health-Cordillera (DOH-CAR). Health Officer Karen
Lonogan from the Department of Health (DOH) Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) has expressed grave concern over the escalating situation. “We have recorded a consistent increase in dengue cases since April, surpassing the 5-year epidemic threshold. This trend is alarming and demands immediate action,” she stated.

All provinces within CAR have seen substantial increases, ranging from 52-percent in Mountain Province to a
staggering 167-percent in Apayao, resulting in a total of 3,922 cases and four deaths from January to June. This alarming rise in dengue cases has resulted in 154 barangays across the region experiencing clusters of cases, with Mountain Province bearing the brunt of a 149-percent increase. Benguet also witnessed substantial rises in cases.

Health authorities are closely monitoring the two-week growth rate trend to anticipate healthcare demands and prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed, underscoring the urgent need for heightened vigilance and preventive measures throughout the region The demographic data from DOH CAR reveals a wide age range of dengue patients, from as young as three months to 94 years old.

Forty two-percent of these cases have shown warning signs of severe illness, such as persistent vomiting, abdominal pain, and bleeding tendencies. This highlights the urgency for early consultation and prompt medical intervention. The public is being urged to adhere to the 5S strategy: search and destroy mosquito breeding sites, use self-protection measures, seek early consultation, stay hydrated, and resort to spraying or fogging only as a last measure.

Jasmin Alaia Legpit/UC-Intern