5 dengue deaths reported in Region 12

COTABATO CITY – Dengue, a highly preventable disease, has claimed the lives of five persons in this region since January 1, the regional health office said.

Three of those who died were from North Cotabato, one from Sarangani and another one from South Cotabato, Jenny Ventura Panizales, speaking for the Department of Health (DOH) in Soccsksargen region, said Saturday.

As of February, the DOH Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU) here listed 2,332 dengue cases in the region, a 191 percent rise from the same period last year.

Panizales told the Inquirer the youngest dengue patient was three months old while the oldest was 96 years old.

North Cotabato has the highest number of dengue patients at 800 or 34 percent of the total number, followed by South Cotabato at 30 percent or 707 cases;  Sarangani, 11 percent, or 257 patients; Sultan Kudarat, 263 patients; Gen. Santos City, 218; and Cotabato City, 111.

Although Cotabato City registered has a low number of dengue cases, it posted the highest growth of 311 percent — or from 27 dengue patients in 2018 to 111 this year.

Panizales said Barangay Poblacion, Carmen, North Cotabato; Barangay Maybay of Maitum, Sarangani; Barangay Zone III of Cotabato City; Barangay Poblacion of Polomolok and Barangay Poblacion of Tupi, both in South Cotabato and Barangay Calumpang in Gen. Santos City are considered “hot spots.”

Panizales said there is no declaration of an outbreak, but health workers are on emergency status. /ee

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