Cagayan logs over 1K dengue cases since January; breaches 5-year average infections

Cagayan province has breached its five-year average of dengue infections after monitoring over 1,000 cases since January, Cedric Castillo reported on “24 Oras."

Several hospitals in the province have confirmed seeing an uptrend in the cases including Cagayan Valley Medical Center which said it had admitted 176 dengue patients since the start of the year. Of the figure, 19 are still confined while four have died.

The hospital has also designated a fast lane for dengue patients.

“Kumpara noong nakaraang taon, talagang malaki ang itinaas. Supposedly, mga June or July pa itong nakita nating pagtaas,” Dr. Cherry Lou Antonio, chief Medical Professional Staff II of Cagayan Valley Medical Center, said.

(There is a huge increase this year compared to last year. Supposedly, surge of dengue patients can be seen around June or July.)

“Talagang nakakaalarma na itong tumataas na cases namin ng dengue rito lalo na noong nakaraang buwan ng Mayo dahil nakita namin yung trend ng pagtaas,” she said.

(It was alarming especially because of the uptrend we saw this May.)

There are currently 1,035 dengue cases in Cagayan, according to its provincial health office. It said this breaches its five-year average of infections since 2018 when 2,087 infections and 23 deaths were reported.

Earlier, the Department of Health (DOH) said several provinces in the Cagayan Valley region including Cagayan, Isabela and Nueva Vizcaya have exceeded their epidemic threshold for the dengue this year as compared to last year.

It also flagged its regional offices and the respective local government over the rise of dengue cases in the areas.

“Sa ngayon po, ang dengue cases sa Region 2 specifically in Cagayan, Isabela, and Nueva Vizcaya nakapag exceed na po sila ng kanilang alert and epidemic threshold,” DOH Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire said.

(As of now, the dengue cases in Region 2 specifically in Cagayan, Isabela, and Nueva Vizcaya have exceeded their alert and epidemic threshold.)

Antonio, for her part, reminded the public to be alert of the symptoms of the disease.

“Makitaan lang ng sintomas ng dengue like itong pagkakaroon ng lagnat na tumatagal nang dalawa hanggang pitong araw na hindi bumababa at tuloy-tuloy at nanghihina na yung bata. Ayaw na kumain, wala nang gana kumain at mayroon na siyang signs of bleeding like may pagdudugo sa ilong or mga rashes. Kailangan na po siya dalhin sa pinakamalapit na clinic o ospital,” she said.

(Once you see someone with symptoms such as a fever that lasts for two to seven days, fatigue, loss of appetite, bleeding, and rashes, they should immediately be admitted to the nearest hospital.)

As a preventive measure, the Cagayan provincial government has distributed insecticides among its constituents. It also reminded them to maintain the cleanliness of their surroundings to prevent mosquitoes from breeding in stagnant waters.

Zamboanga

Meanwhile, dengue cases in Zamboanga province are also on the rise after the Zamboanga Medical Center confirmed having a number of admitted patients sick with the disease, including children.

“Tuloy-tuloy pa rin po kaming nakakatanggap ng kaso ng dengue. In fact, ngayon po sa emergency room may mga cases tayo ng dengue. It could be contributory naman talaga ang ulan. Ilang araw na na may stagnant na water so dun po kaya mataas ang kaso,” Dr. Shadrina Sarappudin, Zamboanga Medical Center spokesperson, said.

(We’re still receiving dengue patients. In fact, our emergency rooms have dengue cases. The heavy rains could be contributory. There are stagnant waters for days causing the high cases.)

Dengue infections in the Philippines this year remain lower compared to the same period in 2021 despite the uptick, the DOH said.

Meanwhile, around 13 cases of alleged Chikungunya virus were reported in Davao City. The DOH Region 11, however, said it is still not confirmed as tests are still being run on the samples.

The World Health Organization previously said severe Chikungunya cases are “very rare." —Sundy Locus/LDF, GMA News