Dengue cases in Luzon down, say officials

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—The number of dengue cases in Central Luzon is lower this year compared to last year’s but this is no reason to slow down clean-up efforts in communities, a Department of Health (DOH) official said.

The number of cases from January to September this year increased by 169 percent compared to a 400-percent increase in the same period last year, according to figures from the DOH’s Center for Health Development.

Of 11,853 cases reported until Sept. 3, Bulacan had 3,836 cases; Pampanga, 2,899; Nueva Ecija, 2,356; Tarlac, 1,481; Bataan, 667; Zambales, 489; and Aurora, 125.

At least 33 people, mostly children, died within the period, 11 of them in Bulacan, records from the regional epidemiology and surveillance unit showed.

In Pampanga, the provincial government has referred dengue patients to other hospitals to reduce the number of patients at the 250-bed capacity Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital (JBLMRH).

In August, the JBLMRH was receiving between 100 and 150 dengue patients a week. Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon