(September 14-18, 2009)
There has been a significant drop in the number of dengue cases in the first period of 2009, records of the Department of Health in Bicol showed.
The number of dengue cases recorded in the first six months of this year had decreased by 32 percent compared to the number of cases in the same period last year.
Data showed that from January to July of 2009, there have been 208 dengue victims in the six provinces of Bicol, while 306 cases, which included six fatalities, had been recorded in the same (first six) months of 2008.
Camarines Sur has the highest number of cases with 185, including one fatality; Albay, 13; Sorsogon, 8 and; Masbate, two. Provinces of Camarines Norte and Catanduanes have been so far no reported case of dengue.
Despite the decline of dengue victims in the region, the city health of Naga has raised an alert for dengue fever after recording one death in the city. However, this should not alarm other provinces for there is no dengue outbreak yet, said the DOH V.
Jaime Guerrero, public information officer of the DOH V, said that the drop in the number of dengue cases in Bicol was due to the massive awareness campaign of the local authorities against dengue fever especially in most vulnerable areas in the region.
Dengue is transmitted by the bite of an Aedes mosquito infected with any one of the four dengue viruses. It occurs in tropical and sub-tropical areas of the world. Symptoms appear 3—14 days after the infective bite. Dengue fever is a febrile illness that affects infants, young children and adults.
No comments:
Post a Comment