CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Central Luzon now ranks second to Metro Manila in the number of mosquito-borne dengue cases reaching 6,241, including 11 deaths, the Department of Health (DOH) regional office said here yesterday.
Dr. Jesse Fantone, chief of the DOH’s regional epidemiology and surveillance unit, noted in a press conference here that dengue cases in Central Luzon from last January to June 30 is higher by 12 percent than the cases over the same period last year..
Fantone noted that the 6,241 dengue cases in Central Luzon now rank the region as second to the National Capital Region in the number of dengue cases so far this year. Dengue cases in Metro Manila have reached almost 8,000.
Of Central Luzon’s seven provinces, Nueva Ecija topped with 1,785 cases, followed by Bulacan with 1,745, Pampanga with 1,167, Bataan with 677, Tarlac with 488, Zambales with 348 and Aurora with 31.
Fantone said 11 of the victims have died. Nueva Ecija reported four deaths, Pampanga reported three, and Bataan, Bulacan and Tarlac with one each.
“We urge the public to conduct clean-up drives in their respective communities and destroy all possible breeding sites of mosquitoes such as old tires and tin cans,” Fantone appealed.
He stressed that “the importance of cleaning not only the homes and schools but also places like churches and markets as well as the streets and public playgrounds since one can be exposed to dengue-carrying mosquitoes anywhere.”
Dengue is a virus contracted from the bite of Aedes Egypti mosquitoes which bite normally only during daytime.
“Headache, fever, muscle and joint pains and skin rashes characterize the disease. In extreme cases, bleeding of the gums and nose may occur,” Fantone said.
