Albay health execs on alert over dengue rise

LEGAZPI CITY—Health authorities in Albay are on heightened alert following a 28-percent surge in dengue cases during the past three quarters.

The Provincial Health Office surveillance team reported that 550 people had the mosquito-borne disease from January to September, 156 more than the 394 cases reported over the same period last year, Dr. Luis Mendoza, provincial health officer, said on Wednesday.

Among the 15 town and three cities in Albay, Daraga had 150 cases, followed by Legazpi City with 94; Camalig, 68; Guinobatan, 65; Ligao, 50; Tabaco, 37; Polangui, 23; and Oas, 22. Other towns have cases ranging from one to nine.

Mendoza said the upsurge was triggered by the moderate to heavy rainfall that the province had experienced since January.

A team from the Provincial Epidemiology Surveillance Unit closely monitors cases of dengue fever in the rural health units, three district hospitals and several private hospitals.

Mendoza directed municipal and barangay health workers to conduct an information drive on how to eliminate the breeding places of mosquitos and how to watch out for signs that a person has been afflicted with dengue fever.

The dengue virus is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito that breeds in water-filled containers, flower pots and in clear stagnant water. Symptoms appear 3-14 days after the infective bite.

Dengue fever is a febrile illness that affects infants, young children and adults. Symptoms range from a mild fever, to incapacitating high fever, with severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, and rashes, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

For the rest of Bicol, the DOH recorded a 100-percent rise in dengue cases over the first two quarters with 812 cases, compared to 406 over the same period last year.

Camarines Sur topped the list with 692 dengue cases. Naga City declared a state of calamity in June following a dengue outbreak.