Ilocos Norte municipality under state of calamity due to dengue

Dingras municipality in Ilocos Norte has been placed under state of calamity due to the unusual number of dengue cases, GMA News' Ian Cruz reported on Unang Balita on Wednesday.

The move was made after the number of dengue cases rose from 16 to 65 in just just two weeks with one fatality, a six-year-old child.

Fumigation activities were carried out in Dingras in an effort to contain the spread of the disease.

A dengue outbreak, meanwhile, was declared in Itbayat, Batanes.

About 20 residents were airlifted by the Philippine Air Force to nearby hospitals for treatment. A child died of dengue before they could be brought to a medical facility.

Similarly, areas in Orani, Bataan, particularly Barangay Pag-Asa, also experienced a surge in dengue cases from May to July due to seasonal rains.

Orani District Hospital senior resident Dr. Rosalie Manubay said it was normal for dengue cases to go up during the rainy season as mosquitos thrive from having more places to lay their eggs in.

"Pagbagsak ng ulan, siyempre 'yung mga containers usually sa mga halaman 'yan. Tsaka 'yung sa mga gulong, dun naiipon 'yung tubig, tapos dun nagpupunta 'yung mga lamok," she said.

To combat this, local officials and residents began a mass cleanup drive.

"Yung mga container na may mga lamang tubig, mga buho, lata, mga galon na merong kitikiti. Tapos 'yun nga ho, tinapon 'yung tubig, tinaob," Kagawad Rico Casumbal said. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News