Dengue surge hits uplands, wreaks havoc in Kidapawan

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines—Health officials have recorded an increase in dengue cases in Kalinga, as the province confronts cases of chikungunya, a Department of Health (DOH) official in the Cordillera said on Tuesday.

Dr. Alexei Marrero, DOH Cordillera medical officer, said most of the 374 cases of dengue from January to July this year were recorded in Tabuk City.

Tabuk hospitals also recorded three confirmed cases of chikungunya, he said, as well as eight patients exhibiting the symptoms of the disease. Patients contract dengue fever and hikungunya through mosquito bites.

Marrero said the recent number of dengue cases in Kalinga was higher than the 357 cases there from January to July last year.

The neighboring Mt. Province recorded 163 dengue cases, which were an increase from the 76 cases recorded in January to July last year, he said. Among the Cordillera provinces, Benguet recorded the highest number of dengue cases with 431 patients from January to July, Marrero said.

The DOH said villagers of Lamut, Ifugao, have intensified fogging operations and a clean-up drive in Poblacion East and Poblacion West, to contain an outbreak of chikungunya there, which reached 703 cases this month.

Calamity

In Kidapawan City, the City Disaster Reduction Risk and Management Council

(CDRRMC) is pushing for the immediate declaration of a state of calamity due to the continuing increase in the number of dengue cases in various villages there.

Psalmer Bernalte, acting city information officer of Kidawapan, said the declaration could pave way for the use of the city’s 5 percent calamity funds to address dengue and other health issues.

Part of the funds will be used in purchasing two fogging machines and blood bank equipment.

The City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (Cesu) reported that at least 356 dengue cases were documented since January to June. Of the number, six, mostly children aged 4 to 10 years old, have died.

The Cesu has also monitored nine suspected cases of chikungunya in Barangay Magsaysay.

In the whole of North Cotabato, of the 1,302 dengue cases recorded, at least 11 persons have died, the Provincial Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit reported. Desiree Caluza, Inquirer Northern Luzon and Williamor Magbanua, Inquirer Mindanao