The City Health Services Office (CHSO) disclosed that dengue fever cases in the city increased by approximately 700 percent from January 1 to October 4, 2021 where there were some 1,036 cases that were recorded compared to the 144 cases reported during the same period last year.
Dr. Donabel Tubera-Panes, CHSO epidemiology and surveillance unit head, claimed that health authorities are also closely monitoring dengue fever cases in the city because of the significant increase in reported cases as the said illness is on its cyclic trend for this year based on the history of dengue fever over the past several decades.
She claimed that the age range of the reported dengue fever cases is from 1 month old to 90 years old with a median of 26 years.
Further, the city epidemiologist added that the majority of the cases are males which account for 53 percent while 47 percent of the cases are females.
Based on the data obtained from the CHSO, 13 percent of the dengue fever cases in the city belong to the 15 to 19 years old age group.
During the said period, Panes said that there were 10 dengue-related deaths in the city where 7 of them are males and 3 are females from the various barangays in the city.
According to her, the CHSO was able to document clustering of dengue fever cases in the city from September 12 October 4, 2021 where the said barangays include Camp 7, Bakakeng Central, Irisan, Santa Escolastika, San Vicente, Bakakeng Norte/Sur and Happy Holes-Old Lucban.
Panes urged residents in the city’s barangays to continue observing the practice of the traditional 4 o’clock habit by ensuring that the breeding ground of the dengue carrying mosquitoes, particularly the containers of stagnant water, prevents the clustering of cases in their places.
The medical officer asserted that aside from the search and destroy, residents must also seek early consultation when they possess symptoms of the said illness such as continuous fever among others, wear proper self-protection such as long-sleeved shirts and long pants and say no to fogging except during outbreaks.
She stipulated that the last time that there was a surge in dengue fever cases was in 2016 that is why based on the principle of the cyclic trend, which is 3 to 4 years, now is the time that the rise in dengue fever cases will significantly increase.
Panes emphasized the need for people to be extra careful of their health because of the threat not only of dengue fever but also the dreaded Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)Â which is now congesting the various public and private health facilities.
(Photo courtesy by Joseph Manzano)
