Dengue scare in city brgys, Hepa A cases on the rise too
Cases of Dengue and Hepatitis A have now hit at least two city barangays, the victims mostly schoolchildren.
In the past month alone, ten Dengue cases were confirmed by Monica, City Proper Barangay Captain Frank Espinosa as he called on continued fogging operations and massive clean-up within his area. Three of the Dengue victims he named -- Cristine Barillo, Rudy Estrella and Albert Tenzon -- were all relatives, brought and treated at the West Visayas State University Medical Center (WVSUMC).
Of the ten, two remain in the hospital.
In nearby Barangay Zamora, Barangay Captain Lilianne Sorioso reported yet another eight Dengue cases. Concern is raised in one elementary school in the area, A. Montes Elementary School where most of the Dengue-hit schoolchildren are enrolled. School officials appealed to parents to inform school authorities so that further precautions will be made.
Latest reported Dengue victim was named as one Darlene Abello, a first year high school student of the Fort San Pedro National High School. The 13 year-old student was rushed to the hospital yesterday (Thursday) with bleeding noted by family members.
Sorioso has already requested the City Health Office to conduct fogging operations in their barangay to allay the fears of the residents for a possible outbreak. At the same time, the official is likewise coordinating with the officials of the A. Montes Elementary School.
City Health Office chief Dr. Urminico Baronda made an appeal to city residents to initiate a clean up drive to deter the occurrence of dengue H-fever as two waterfront barangays are already hit by the disease.
Baronda said the best way to fight H-fever is to eliminate the breeding grounds of dengue-carrying mosquitoes. People should clean their barangays everyday and should not wait that the dengue cases rise in their area.
He added that fogging operation is not the immediate solution to kill the virus-carrying mosquitoes. The city health officer said they have already conducted several fogging operations in the different parts of the city but Baronda will not recommend its frequent use.
Baronda said fogging operations have side effects especially to people suffering from asthma.
Baronda urged the people to immediately seek medical assistance once afflicted by dengue fever.
Meantime, ten cases of Hepatitis A was also confirmed to have hit Barangay Bakhaw in Mandurriao District.
The News Today (TNT) learned from sources that medical team of the barangay's health center have been overwhelmed of the cases as one after another was brought in for check-up and emergency treatment in the past two weeks alone.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD) in Western Visayas announced a decreasing trend in the cases of dengue fever in the region although it has recorded a total of 709 cases from January to August this year.
Data provided by the DOH Regional Epidemiology Center revealed that the disease has already claimed eight lives.
The monitoring of the disease further showed that the highest incidence occurred in July where cases of admission were more than double the cases that were monitored in the previous month.
Data also showed that 55 percent of the victims were males while 54 percent belongs to the age bracket 0- 10 years old.
Despite the decreasing trend, the DOH still urged the public to clean their surroundings of possible breeding places and to use repellants, insect sprays, mosquito nets and protective clothing.
The local government units are also expected to maintain and sustain their clean up drives, monitor areas identified to have dengue cases and collaborate with municipal health centers, schools and barangay health volunteers on the promotion of dengue awareness.
(With reports from PNA)