Dengue outbreak declared in P’sinan town

CALASIAO, Pangasinan – Officials here declared a dengue outbreak yesterday after 23 out of 24 barangays have 118 confirmed dengue cases, including one death.

Mayor Roy Macanlalay told The STAR that he discussed the move to declare the dengue outbreak with Vice Mayor Ferdinand Galang and the provincial and regional health offices.

The town, according to Macanlalay, last had a dengue outbreak in 1998 when 271 residents were afflicted with the mosquito-borne disease. In 2006, there were 110 dengue victims.

The number of confirmed dengue cases from January to Aug. 15 this year was several times higher than the six cases during the same period last year.

Hardest-hit barangays this year are San Miguel with 15 cases, Malabago with 14, and Lasip with 11.

Most of the victims were children, and the oldest was 55 years old. The lone fatality was a teenager.

Macanlalay said they decided to declare the dengue outbreak to boost the efforts of the municipal, provincial and regional health offices to prevent further spread of the disease.

The number of dengue patients is expected to increase with the rainy season, Macanlalay said.