Episode 46 OutbreakLATEST! State of Calamity declared in Morong, Teresa & San Mateo
Philippine Department of Health confirmed Thursday an outbreak of dengue in Maybancal, Morong . It was reported that three deaths were recorded in two weeks in the area.
DoH also urged local government units and residents to refrain from conducting fogging operations to fight dengue fever, saying the method is not only costly but is also a health hazard.
This warning was issued as Doctor Eric Tayag, officer-in charge of DOH's National Epidemiology Center, confirmed an outbreak of dengue in Barangay Maybangkal in Morong, Rizal that has claimed three lives in less than two weeks.
NEWS LINKS: Dengue Outbreak Confirmed in Morong Philippine Daily Inquirer DOH Dengue Confirms Outbreak in Morong Manila Times
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DOH confirms dengue outbreak in Morong
Manila Times 9/7/06
THE Department of Health on Thursday confirmed a dengue outbreak in Morong, Rizal, the ABS-CBN news website reported.
“We are confirming a dengue epidemic in Barangay Maybangkal in Morong,” Dr. Eric Tayag, chief of the National Epidemiology Center, said in a television interview.
Dengue is an infectious tropical disease transmitted by mosquitoes. Dengue symptoms are rashes, aching head and joints and high fever typically lasting two to three days.
Tayag advised parents to consult a doctor immediately if their children show symptoms like nose bleeding when fever starts to subside, and weakness, among other signs.
He added that government doctors and health workers are fumigating Rizal villages and other suspected breeding areas of the dengue-carrying mosquitoes.
“We are asking town and city authorities not to conduct fogging operations without coordinating with us,” Tayag said.
He said 13,468 dengue cases were recorded this year from January 9 to August 29; 167 individuals have died. He noted, however, that the figure is 42 percent less than the total number of dengue cases in 2005.
A report said on Wednesday that authorities placed several towns in Rizal in a state of calamity because of the rising number of dengue cases.
The report did not identify the towns but said that in Morong, three children died, while 10 more were being treated at the Rizal Provincial Hospital.
It said that 24 have died in the 354 cases recorded from January from August. Rizal provincial officials are appealing to the national government for financial aid.
Dengue outbreak in Morong confirmed
DoH warns vs fogging
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Last updated 08:46pm (Mla time) 09/07/2006
THE Department of Health Thursday urged local government units and residents to refrain from conducting fogging operations to fight dengue fever, saying the method is not only costly but is also a health hazard.
This warning was issued as Doctor Eric Tayag, officer-in charge of DOH's National Epidemiology Center, confirmed an outbreak of dengue in Barangay Maybangkal in Morong, Rizal that has claimed three lives in less than two weeks.
Dengue is an infectious tropical disease that is transmitted by mosquitoes and is characterized by rashes, aching head and joints, and high fever typically lasting two to three days.
Tayag said 13,468 dengue cases nationwide were recorded between January 9 and August 29 this year. While there were 167 deaths, he said this was 42 percent less than last year.
"Overall nationwide there is a decrease. But areas like Morong, Rizal, which had 79 cases from January to Sept. 6, and the Cordillera Administrative Region, Baguio and other areas in Metro Manila, as well as Central Luzon, are experiencing clustering," or a conglomeration of cases in one locality, Tayag explained.
He said dengue hotspots in the country include Metro Manila with 4,232 dengue cases recorded from January to August, followed by Central Luzon with 1,898, Central Visayas with 1,752 and CAR with 922.
"The alert level means that we are intensifying the campaign to fight dengue in those areas," he said.
Tayag said they will coordinate with local officials to hold weekly fogging operations in Barangay Mabangkal where dengue has reached "epidemic" proportions.
He, however, reminded local government units not to conduct fogging operations without coordinating with the health department.
"We don't use fogging to prevent dengue, we use it to cut the cycle of epidemic that's why we're using it in Barangay Maybangkal; it's a different situation. But we don't recommend it because it's harmful to one's health especially when inhaled by persons with asthma," the DOH official explained.
Tayag advised parents to consult a doctor immediately if their children show symptoms like nosebleed when the fever starts to subside and weakness, among other signs.
He said the health department is expecting more cases of dengue during the onset of the rainy season.
Earlier, health officials in Rizal province blamed the unpredictable weather and dirty surroundings in at least five towns for the rapid rise of dengue cases in the last four weeks.
Rizal provincial health officer Iluminado Victoria said dengue continues to threaten 13 towns in the province but is particularly dangerous in five towns where 24 cases were recorded.
"We have not recommended placing the areas under a state of calamity but dengue has indeed been rising in at least five areas," Victoria said.
He said that from August 9 to 28, at least nine cases were recorded in Rodriguez town, five in San Mateo, four in Teresa, and three each in Morong and Cardona.
For the same 19-day period, she said nine were killed in Rizal province--a rapid rise compared to the period between January and August 9 when 12 deaths were recorded.
"The fast-changing weather coupled with the failure to clean up surroundings likely contributed to the spread of dengue there," Victoria said when asked about the causes of dengue.
Meanwhile, Tayag ordered the setting up of express lanes in hospitals to accommodate dengue cases.
"We have ordered the hospitals to immediately admit dengue patients," he said.
State of calamity
Three of Rizal’s 13 towns have declared a state of calamity because of dengue: San Mateo, Morong and Teresa.
From January, 122 dengue cases and seven deaths were reported in San Mateo; 79 dengue cases and three deaths in Morong; 20 dengue cases and four deaths in Teresa.
The highest number of cases in the province—133—was reported in thickly populated Antipolo City.
Out of the 13 towns and one city in the province, only Pililia had not reported a single dengue case, provincial health office nurse Jesusa Oser said.
Though he did not provide exact figures, Victoria said the number of dengue cases in the province showed a sharp increase this year compared to last year.
He said they were also surprised by the sudden increase, adding that the heavy rains and the unpredictable weather the past few weeks could be a factor.
HEALTH officials in Rizal province are worried about the rapidly increasing number of deaths from dengue.
The province has registered 726 cases so far, the number rapidly increasing in the last three weeks, Rizal provincial health officer Iluminado Victoria told the Inquirer.
The National Capital Region (NCR) registered the highest number of dengue cases in the country, with 50 recorded deaths, in the last eight months.
It was followed by Central Luzon and Central Visayas, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
Victoria said even more worrisome was the “sudden increase” in the number of deaths.
The Rizal provincial health office said at least 30 persons in Rizal had died of dengue fever this year. Twelve of the deaths occurred during the first seven months of the year.
The other 18 dengue deaths were registered only from Aug. 9.
Officials have advised residents not to take for granted symptoms like high fever.
Rodriguez Mayor Pedro Cuerpo said the problem was “some parents are not bringing their sick children to hospitals immediately.”
The town has registered 123 dengue cases so far, with nine deaths, the highest in the province.
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Clean surroundings
“We are advising residents to maintain cleanliness in their houses,” Victoria said.
Mosquitoes spreading dengue fever breed in clear, stagnant water. Health officials have been reminding residents to drain containers, old tires, cans or bottles and even gutters which could hold rainwater.
A total of 13,468 cases and 167 dengue-related deaths were reported nationwide from Jan. 1 to Aug. 29, according to Dr. Eric Tayag, officer-in-charge of the DOH National Epidemiology Center.
Tayag said NCR reported 4,222 cases for the same period; Central Luzon, 1,898; and Central Visayas, 1,752. The DOH said children aged one month to four years were most vulnerable to the disease.
But Tayag advised against fogging activities. He said they should only be conducted in areas where there was an epidemic.
He explained that fogging, apart from giving a false sense of security, would affect the health of other residents.
The focus should instead be on searching for and destruction of mosquito breeding places with the use of insecticide, Tayag said.
In Makati City, Mayor Jejomar Binay ordered yesterday an intensified cleanup of campuses and barangays to reduce the incidence of dengue.
City Hall said Makati registered one of the lowest incidence of dengue in Metro Manila, with 59 cases reported last month.
City health officer Ma. Lourdes Salud said the incidence of dengue went down in the city because of intensive cleanup operations in communities and schools and regular larvae trapping in barangays.
The Taguig City Health Office, on the other hand, asked residents to remove old rubber tires from their rooftops.
Dr. Rolando Paac, city health officer, also directed a composite team of health personnel, employees of the General Services Office, engineering department, barangay officials and the local police to confiscate rubber tires.
However, realizing that some people used the tires to keep their roofs in place, the health office said holes should be made so the tires would not hold water.
Dengue coordinator Dr. Gigi Monsod said Taguig had a total of 135 dengue cases and five deaths from January to Sept. 7. The total was lower than last year’s 166 cases for the same period.
Mayor Freddie Tinga announced yesterday he sent barangay health workers to bring sick children to the health centers for free blood platelets testing.
“We regularly clean our government buildings. But (private properties) should also be kept clean,” Cuerpo said.
===Philippine Daily Inquirer
Dengue Outbreak: Magbayanihan tayo
Mga kababayan kong taga-Morong, siguro naman po ay alam nating lahat ang salot na rumapo sa ating bayan, partikular sa Maybancal at CCL. hindi po ako taga-roon. Pero bilang isang taga-Morong at saing magulang, napakahirap pong tingnan ang ating mga kababayang walang sapat na pera para isalba ang kanilang mga anak mula sa nakamamatay na dengue. huwag po tayong umasa lamang na itutulong ng gobyernong lokal o nasyunal sa kanila, dahil marami na po ang namatay na karamihan ay mga batang walang muwang. Kung maaari po ay magbayanihan tayo, at lahat tayo ay makiisa sa abot ng ating makakaya. Pwede po tayong mag-participate sa iba't ibang paraan. Fund raising per street or per neighborhood, pwede po namang dasal na tulad ng ikinampanya ni Fr. Larry, Magdasal ng Salmo (Awit) 91 tuwing ika-9 ng gabi sa loob ng 9 araw, pwede naman po tayong makilinis ng ating paliger o maghikayat ng ating kapitbahay o kaibigan na MAKIISA sa anumang paraan. Hindi po ito problemang pang-kanila lamang. Pang-ating lahat ito at lahat tayo ay may pananagutan sa bawat isa. Sige na po mga taga-Morong... makiisa po tayo..
Kung ikaw na nakababasa nito ay may pinansiyal na kakayahang tumulong, maaari po kayong dumerekta sa mga magulang ng biktima para ipaabot ang tulong mo.. Makapagsasalba ka pa ng buhay. Kung hindi mo alam kung kanino mo ibibigay, maaari kang pumunta sa Emergency o sa Morong Doctor's dahil naroroon lamang ang mga kababayan nating walang sapat na kaya para madala sa espesyalista sa Maynila ang kanilang mga anak. Kung ang pera mo naman ay hindi sapat at marami kang kaibigan, maaari kang magpasimula ng ambagan o solicitation at idirekta po ninyo sa mga biktima o ipambili ng gamit para makapagdefogging. Anyayahan mo ang barkada mo na tumulong tayong lahat.
Maraming paraan, kababayan. Lalo kung gusto talagang tumulong. Kahit ang panawagan sa pamamagitan ng Blogging o sa friendster mo, i-post mo. Sa ganoong paraan, nakatulong ka na. Salamat sa pagbasa mo nito. Sana'y kahit paano, nakatulong ako na antigin ang damdamin mo para makatulong ka rin. Pwera siste hane? Magbayanihan na tayo. Ngayon na!
Alam kong maraming gustung tumulong pero hindi alam kung paano. Mayruon bang NGO sa Morong na nag hahandle. Kailangang makausap ng RSG ang Mayor at ng malaman kung paano tayo makatutulong. calling Matabuak
Ang problema ay walang cure sa dengue. Sige, email post po lamang tayo.
GMA: Stop dengue
The Philippine Star 09/09/2006
President Arroyo ordered authorities yesterday to step up their action against dengue outbreaks that hit several areas in the country.
"President Arroyo is concerned over the growing number of dengue cases and has already instructed the Department of Health (DOH) to make a thorough assessment of the situation and take action in affected and vulnerable areas - especially in containing outbreaks and intensifying cleanup operations using the safest means available," Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said.
The President’s order comes in the wake of reports of a dengue outbreak in a town in Morong, Rizal where three people have died.
Based on reports, the DOH also raised dengue alert level in Metro Manila and the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR), particularly in Baguio City, due to the high number of cases reported in these areas.
The DOH has asked all hospitals with high dengue admission to set up their respective "dengue express" programs to systematize the treatment and admission of dengue patients.
DOH chief epidemiologist Dr. Eric Tayag said the scheme would enable hospitals to prioritize the treatment of people with severe dengue and other grave illnesses.
"In some hospitals now, even those who are not really sick with dengue but are only manifesting symptoms like fever, are already being accepted for confinement, maybe to unclog the emergency rooms. So when the real dengue patients or those with other grave illnesses come, there’s already no room left for them," Tayag said in Filipino.
He said that, in dealing with suspected dengue cases, there are "danger signs" that must be observed: The sudden onset of fever, stomach pain, rapid breathing, rapid pulse and bleeding.
Tayag added that if such signs are not present in a patient, the patient may be sent home, provided that the patient "will be observed three to four times a day."
"There is a possibility that the patient’s condition (may) progress into dengue, so they have to watch out for the symptoms," he added.
At present, the DOH is closely monitoring Barangay Maybangkal in Morong, Rizal and Barangays Irisan in Loakan proper and Pacdal in Baguio City, where dengue outbreaks were declared.
From Jan. 1 to Aug. 29, a total of 13,467 dengue cases have been recorded by the DOH, with 167 deaths. This is 42 percent lower than the number of registered dengue cases during the same period last year.
The clustering of cases was observed in some parts of Caloocan City and Malabon City and in Manila, Muntinlupa, Navotas, Parañaque, Pasig, Taguig Valenzuela cities and Quezon City.
Clustering of dengue cases was also observed in Calasiao and Dagupan in Pangasinan; Baliwag, Marilao, Meycauayan, Sta. Maria and San Jose del Monte in Bulacan; Taytay, Rizal; Dumaguete City, Mabinay, Manjuyod, Tanjay and Bais in Negros Oriental and in Itogon, Benguet.
DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III said Metro Manila accounted for the majority of cases (4,222); followed by Central Luzon (1,898) and Central Visayas (1,752).
Duque said the best way to fight dengue is to "search (for) and destroy" the breeding sites of dengue-causing aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which thrive in clean but stagnant water.
"We have to be vigilant in our guard against dengue," Duque said. "We cannot afford to be complacent and just sit down, especially not with the fact that most lives it claims are the hope if our future — our children." —
Schools suspected as dengue source
Manila Times 9/11/06
The mosquito that spreads the dengue virus could be lurking in schools in Rizal and Metro Manila, posing a danger to the children studying there.
The possibility that the schools were harboring the Aedes aegypti mosquito was raised by health officials who noted that many of the dengue victims were of school age. Some of them came from the same school.
Alarmed by the recent surge in dengue cases in Morong, Rizal, and in Metro Manila, Education Secretary Jesli Lapus on Sunday ordered regional and division office officials to be on alert and diligently monitor cases of dengue in schools and to coordinate with the Department of Health.
Schools where dengue-bearing mosquitoes are found will be fumigated.
Lapus also reiterated orders to strengthen information dissemination on the prevention and control of dengue H-fever in schools.
“The department has already established measures for the awareness, prevention and control of dengue in our schools,” Lapus said, in reference to DepEd Memorandum 227 s. 2005.
“Our priority is to ensure that our students are safe from diseases in our schools and that they are well-informed on how to prevent such diseases,” he said.
The memorandum, issued in August of 2005, instructs all regional directors to mobilize all school health and nutrition personnel to disseminate information on dengue H-fever prevention and control.
It also called for the close collaboration of school officials with their Parent-Teacher-Community Associations (PTCAs), local government units (LGUs) and municipal health offices.
On Saturday, health officials listed these dengue-prone areas:
• Libis, Talisay, Lapu-Lapu-Maypajo, Julian Felipe-Sangandaan and Phases 4, 7, 8, and 9 in Bagong Silang in Caloocan City.
• Acacia, Catmon, Longos, Potrero and Tonsuya in Malabon.
• Oroquieta-Santa Cruz, Quiricada-Santa Cruz, New Antipolo, Hermosa-Tondo and F. Varona-Tondo in Manila
• Bayanan, Putatan in Muntinlupa
• Dagat-Dagatan, Tangos and Tanza in Navotas
• Moonwalk and Sucat in Parañaque
• Maybunga in Pasig
• Tatalon, Tandang Sora, San Bartolome, Payatas, Masambong, Loyola Heights, Holy Spirit, Gulod-Novaliches, Cubao, Commonwealth, Manresa, Batasan Hills and Bagbag in Quezon City
• Maharlika Village in Taguig
• Ugong, Marulas, Malinta, Karuhatan, Lawang Bato, Gen. T. De Leon and Bignay in Valenzuela
A clustering of dengue cases has also been reported in Calasiao and Dagupan City in Pangasinan; Baliwag, Marilao, Meycauyan, Santa Maria and San Jose del Monte in Bulacan; Taytay, Rizal; Dumaguete City, Mabinay, Manjuyod, Tanjay and Bais in Negros Oriental; and Itogon in Benguet.
Some 13,468 dengue cases have been recorded from January 1 to August 29, with 167 deaths.
Three more people died of dengue in Rizal last week.
Romy Burlongan, Rizal Provincial Health Office administrative officer, told The Manila Times that most of the victims in Rizal were children, aged 10 and younger, the usual ages of elementary-school pupils.
Medina Leynes, the mother of an 11-year-old dengue victim, said in Pilipino, “It is likely that my daughter got the disease from school because our house is clean.”
She added that her only daughter was the second pupil in the school to have contracted dengue.
Her daughter’s condition had already deteriorated to Stage Two of the disease, one level short of the fatal Stage Three.
Dr. Deogenes Fetalvero, Pediatrics chief of Rizal Medical Center in Pasig City, said told if the disease could have been contracted by the victims anywhere, and not necessarily from school.
The significant rise in the number of dengue cases has prompted some towns in Rizal recently to declare a state of calamity.
Figures from the Rizal Provincial Health Office showed that as of January 1, to September 5, at least 728 dengue cases have been recorded in the province. As of last count, 30 individuals have died from the disease.
An alarming number of dengue cases was recorded in the towns of Rodriguez, with 123 cases and nine fatalities; San Mateo with 122 cases and 7 fatalities.
In addition, as of July 2006, malaria cases are also on the rise with Rizal, registering 713 individuals affected. Rodriguez again posted the highest number of malaria cases with 114.
Dengue-Hit Northern Philippine Towns Under State of Calamity
Sep 10, 09:19 AM
Dengue-hit northern Philippine towns under state of calamity
MANILA, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- Three towns in northern Philippine province of Rizal have been placed under a state of calamity because of the rising number of dengue cases, Manila media reported on Saturday.
The provincial health office on Friday declared a dengue outbreak in Barangay(village) Maybangkal after the village reported 30 cases, according to a report by ANC TV.
"That's better because if there's an outbreak or a state of calamity declaration, more funds will be released," Aser Ram of the provincial health office said.
Health officials said two people have died of the disease in the province. They have also recorded 25 new cases on Friday.
Department of Health said that from January to September this year, dengue cases hit 727 nationwide, with 30 of the victims succumbing to the killer disease.
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