Dengue surge reported in Central Mindanao
KIDAPAWAN CITY, Philippines — Dengue downed 12,719 people in Central Mindanao last year, almost three times more than the number of people the mosquito-borne disease sent to hospitals in 2012, the regional office of the Department of Health said Wednesday.
Sixty-seven persons died in the region in 2013, up by 17 from 50 in 2012, according to regional health director Dr. Teogenes Baluma.
The Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (Resu) determined that more than half of the dengue victims in 2013 were males, he said.
Baluma said based on the data gathered by the Resu, North Cotabato had the most dengue cases, with 3,445 compared to the 1,385 cases reported there in 2012.
“Last year’s figure in North Cotabato was 149 percent higher. However, the number of deaths decreased to 11 in 2013 compared to 14 in 2012,” he said.
General Santos City registered a 223-percent increase from just 996 in 2012 to 3,216 cases in 2013.
“The DOH also recorded 29 deaths there due to dengue in 2013 as against 24 in 2012,” Baluma added.
The increase in dengue cases in Central Mindanao, which is made up of the provinces of North and South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Saranggani and the cities of Cotabato, Kidapawan, Koronadal, Tacurong and Gen. Santos, was attributed to the rising mosquito population there.
Aside from dengue, health authorities in the region also had to contend with Chikungunya, another disease that the dengue-causing Aedis egypti mosquito transmits.
In July last year, the Mlang Municipal Health Office declared an outbreak of Chikungunya in Barangay (village) Nueva Vida with 124 patients.
Chikungunya was also monitored in Kidapawan City.
The City Health Office revealed that the Chikungunya viral infection has reached the province of Davao del Sur.
Health officers said that, like dengue, Chikungunya can also kill if left untreated. With reports from Williamor Magbanua and Orlando Dinoy, Inquirer Mindanao
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