Dengue cases up in Aurora

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines – Health officials in Aurora province posted an increase in the number of dengue cases, including  one reported death in Dinalungan town.

Although provincial health officer Luisito Teh said the number of dengue cases this year was lower than last year, there appeared to be a sudden rise in the cases from January up to this month.

Teh assured the residents that the situation is not alarming despite the death of Andy Cosnoy, eight, of Barangay Simbahan, the first casualty reported this year. He was admitted to the Aurora Memorial Hospital last June 7 and died four hours later.

The Aurora epidemiology surveillance unit said most of the cases were reported in the towns of San Luis, Ma. Aurora, Dipaculao, Dinalungan and Baler.

Teh said from six dengue patients recorded in January, the number rose to 39 patients in May and to 90 this month, with 19 of the cases recorded in the first two weeks of June. 

He urged residents to observe cleanliness and remove stagnant water, which serves as breeding grounds for mosquitoes. 

Meanwhile, health officials in the Cordillera region have revived the “four o’clock habit” campaign to prevent the spread of dengue after it recorded 814 cases. The campaign encourages residents to “search and destroy” suspected mosquito breeding sites. – Ding Cervantes, Raymund Catindig