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33 suspected dengue cases reported at Cotabato evacuation center in one day


KIDAPAWAN CITY —Thirty-three suspected dengue cases were reported in just one day at an evacuation site in the town of Makilala in Cotabato province, a barangay health official confirmed on Wednesday.

Norma Bayaan, Barangay Health Worker (BHW) of Barangay Luna Norte said the 33 suspected dengue patients manifested symptoms such as fever and rashes and were advised to seek medical attention.

 

Some suspected dengue cases choose to stay home for self-medications using tawa-tawa concoction. W. MAGBANUA
Some suspected dengue cases choose to stay at home for self-medication using tawa-tawa concoction. W. MAGBANUA

But only 19 of the 33 were brought to the hospital and the  remaining 14 opted to stay home for self-medication.

“They just drink tawa-tawa concoctions as medications, however we still advised them to seek medical attention in our rural health unit so that they will be given proper medications,” Bayaan said.

According to Bayaan, 19 of the suspected dengue cases are being treated at the Makilala Medical Specialist Center, Midway Hospital, and some were rushed at the Cotabato Provincial Hospital in Barangay Amas.

The dengue patients were staying at the evacuation site in Barangay Luna Norte. But they are residents of Barangay Bato in Makilala, which wad hit hardest by last year's earthquakes that rocked the province.

“Dengue-carrying mosquitoes might have bred in the nearby rubber plantation where there are plenty of coconut shell used to clasp the rubber cuplums,” Bayaan opined.

At least 171 families are temporarily being sheltered at the evacuation center after the Mines and Geoscience Bureau (MGB) declared as "high risk" the areas where the evacuated residents come from.

Georgina Sorilla, Makilala Health Officer immediately sent her personnel to conduct fogging operations to contain the spread of the disease in the area.

Sorilla, disclosed that the alleged dengue patients are mostly children, and young adults up to 24 years old.

The North Cotabato Provincial Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (PESU) disclosed that the town of Makilala ranked second in the whole province in terms of dengue infections, only second to Kidapawan City.

As of June 30, at least 70 cases where documented in Makilala with two deaths reported.

The deaths include a minor and one senior citizen, the PESU reported.

Sorilla, appealed to residents of continue observing the 4’s to prevent the spread of disease to nearby villages in Makilala.

Department of Health's 4s' dengue prevention campaign stands for “Search and Destroy” mosquito breeding places, “Secure Self Protection” from mosquito bite, “Seek Early Consultation” when signs and symptoms of dengue occur, and “Say Yes to Fogging.” —LBG, GMA News. 

 

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