‘Rising number of dengue cases in Malabon no reason to raise alarm’

The number of dengue cases in Malabon City has risen by 90 percent this year from the figure reported in 2010, but local health officials see no reason to worry.

They said the number was not alarming since there are many cases of dengue reported during the rainy season.

According to a disease surveillance report obtained by the Inquirer, there were 491 dengue cases in Malabon from January 1 to August 6. The data was gathered from Department of Health sentinel hospitals, health centers and other disease-reporting units in the city’s 21 barangays (villages).

“This present figure is higher compared to last year’s 259 cases in the same period, but that does not mean that we have an outbreak,” said Isauro Garcia, city health officer.

Of the total number of individuals afflicted with the disease, two have reportedly died.

One was a 12-year-old child in Barangay Longos and a 3-year-old in Barangay Santulan.

The following barangays recorded the highest number of cases: Longos (83), Potrero (48), Tonsuya (48), Tinajeros (38) and Catmon (29).

Sampaguita Flores, surveillance officer, told the Inquirer that since more people now know about the nature of dengue, cases are immediately reported and recorded once the symptoms are detected, unlike before.

She said that this could also explain why there were only a few fatalities recorded.

“Although the number of cases has increased, we have only two deaths, proof that the people are more aware about what they have to do when dengue strikes,” Ms. Flores added.

However, it would have been better if they had no fatalities at all, she said.

Flores said the city government was intensifying its dengue prevention and control campaign to prevent the numbers from rising.