Filtered By: Topstories
News

Bulacan placed under state of calamity due to dengue


(Updated 2:28 p.m.) The province of Bulacan was placed under a state of calamity due to the rising number of dengue cases, a News To Go report said.

According to the Bulacan Provincial Epidemiology Surveillance Unit, dengue cases have reached more than 4,700 since January with 11 recorded deaths.

Darlene Ivy, health education and promotion officer of the Bulacan Provincial Public Health Office (PPHO), told GMA News Online by phone that the number of cases was more or less 4,800 — a 228-percent increase from the 1,461 cases recorded in 2014.

Many of those affected by the dengue virus were youths between the ages of 11 to 20 years old, the News To Go report said.

Ivy, meanwhile, noted that the spike was consistent with Bulacan's trend of having a higher number of dengue cases every five years.

"Every five years, talagang tumataas 'yung dengue cases. Last 2010, 2011, nagkaroon ulit ng pagtaas. Matagal na talaga. Before 2010, 2006 'yung huling pagtaas," she said.

Rapidly-changing weather and improper waste disposal were seen as causes for this year's spike, Ivy said.

"It's the climate. Uulan sa umaga, iinit sa hapon, 'yun yung gustong-gusto ng lamok. Tapos madaming stagnant waters [sa] basura ng mga kabahayan. Kapag 'di nilinis within seven days, may kiti-kiti na," she said.

The Department of Health (DOH) reported that 78,808 individuals have been affected by the dengue outbreak in Bulacan and other municipalities as of September 5.

Authorities released P39 million in funds to assist dengue victims and implement the campaign for the prevention of the disease. —with Rie Takumi/KG/KBK, GMA News
LOADING CONTENT