Dengue incidence up in Davao area

DIGOS CITY, Philippines—Government hospitals in Davao City will no longer admit dengue patients from Davao del Sur as they were overwhelmed by the number of local cases, the provincial dengue prevention coordinator here said Tuesday.

“Government hospitals in Davao City would no longer entertain (patients from Davao del Sur) because there are many dengue patients coming from the city alone,” Riza Dacalos said.

According to data from the Davao City Health Office, 96 dengue cases were recorded there in May alone and that 12 patients have died from the mosquito-borne disease since January.

Dacalos said the information on the non-admission of patients from Davao del Sur was relayed to Davao del Sur health officials by Davao City hospital officials during a recent meeting.

Dacalos said this development prompted the Department of Health to boost the capabilities of government hospitals in the province, including the main facility of the Davao del Sur Provincial Hospital here.

“We have to prepare our hospitals here,” she said.

The main reason dengue patients in Davao del Sur were being taken to Davao City for treatment was the availability there of blood for transfusion.

Dacalos said the number of dengue cases in Davao del Sur has not reached an alarming level yet, with a total of 178 recorded from January to May.  But she said health officials expect a spike in the incidence of dengue following the onset of the rainy season.

Dacalos said that as a precaution for the rainy season, the DOH has distributed specially treated curtains and mosquito nets to schools in Davao del Sur towns  where large numbers of dengue cases have been monitored the past months.

Mosquito traps were also distributed, she said.

Dacalos said residents could help prevent the spread of dengue by maintaining cleanliness in their surroundings. The provincial government has ordered mayors to dismiss government employees at 4 p.m. so they could go home and clean their surroundings.

Digos City Mayor Joseph Penas warned employees against using the spare time for other purposes, saying it would be their children who would suffer if they contract the dengue virus.