DOH sees 4 regions with increased dengue cases after Zamboanga City outbreak

The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday said it had also seen a rise in dengue cases in the Zamboanga Peninsula, Cagayan Valley, Western Visayas, and Davao Region following the declaration of a dengue outbreak in Zamboanga City.

In a media briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire explained that despite the recent increase in dengue cases in the country, the weekly reported dengue cases nationally this year were “still significantly lower” than the cases recorded in 2021.

“Sa ngayon, kapag tinignan natin ang breakdown among different regions, doon natin nakikita ‘yung pagtaas. Aside from Zamboanga or Region 9, meron din tayong nakikitang pagtaas ng mga kaso ng dengue sa Region 2, sa Region 6, at saka Region 11,” she said.

(So far, we see an increase in cases if we look at the breakdown among different regions. Aside from Zamboanga or Region 9, we are also seeing an increase in dengue cases in Region 2, Region 6, and Region 11.)

She also pointed out that only the cases in Zamboanga City have exceeded the epidemic threshold, thus the declaration of a dengue outbreak.

The dengue cases in Zamboanga City had reached 893, including 11 deaths, from January 1 to April 2, according to the local government.

They said 85 dengue cases were recorded for morbidity in week 13, which was 963% higher than the same period in 2021.

Vergeire said that if the dengue cases in the country continued to rise, it would  affect the health system as it was going to compete for hospital beds intended for COVID-19 patients.

To curb the outbreak, she said that the Health Department had activated fast lanes in hospitals for those who showed dengue symptoms so they no longer need to wait in emergency rooms to get treatment.

The DOH also prepositioned the logistical needs of regional and local governments to combat the diseas. Among these prepostitioned items were the chemicals needed to prevent the spread of the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

Dengue brigades will also be mobilized every 4 p.m. in schools and communities to encourage the public to follow the 4S: Search and destroy mosquito-breeding sites; Self-protection measures; Seek early consultation of symptoms; and Support spraying or fogging to prevent further outbreaks.

“The most probable cause for this rise in cases would be nagu-ulan na po. So, kailangan lang talaga ng masusing linsin ang mga backyard natin, ang ating mga tahanan, ang ating mga pwesto sa kumunidad, public spaces para mawala ang pinagbabayahan ng Aedes aegypti o ‘yung lamok na nakakapag-cause ng dengue,” Vergeire said.

(The most probable cause for this rise in cases would be the rain. So, we just really need to thoroughly clean our backyards, homes, places in the community, and public spaces to get rid of the Aedes aegypti or the mosquito that causes dengue.)

The DOH on Monday said it was coordinating with regional health and government offices in Zamboanga City as preventive measures were set in place to fight the disease. — DVM, GMA News