Philippine health department raises alert against dengue fever

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[FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]Philippine health department raises alert against dengue fever
http://rawstory.com/news/2006/Philippine_health_department_raises_09102006.html

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Deutsche Presse Agentur
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Times New Roman, Times, serif]Published: Sunday September 10, 2006[/FONT][/FONT]
Manila- The Philippine health department on Sunday raised the alert against the dengue fever amid an outbreak in several communities in the capital and nearby areas. According to the department, 167 deaths and 13,468 cases of dengue have been recorded from January 1 to August 29 this year.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque said his department has started coordinating with local officials of affected areas to make sure that the outbreak does not worsen.

"The president has ordered me to keep dengue under control and make sure it does not reach epidemic proportions," he said.

Duque said the "search and destroy" approach was still the most effective way to fight dengue.

"This operation is inexpensive because it will only require the demolition of all possible mosquito breeding places that include old tires, coconut husks, roof gutters, discarded bottles, flower vases and all stagnant, clean water," he said.

The health department also urged parents not to gamble with their children's health by postponing visits to the doctor if their kids get a fever.

Eric Tayag, office in charge of the health department's National Epidemiology Center, said hospitals have been ordered to set up express lanes for patients suspected to have dengue.

"The express lanes will provide faster case management and treatment," he said. "All suspected cases should be brought immediately to the nearest health facility so they can be checked at once."

Dengue is a mosquito-borne disease that is endemic to the Philippines.

Its symptoms are high fever that could last from two to 10 days and headache accompanied by loss of appetite, vomiting, red skin rashes and abdominal pain.

? 2006 DPA - Deutsche Presse-Agenteur​

 

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Re: Philippine health department raises alert against dengue fever

DOH names dengue-hit areas in metropolis
vhttp://newsinfo.inq7.net/inquirerheadlines/metro/view_article.php?article_id=20064

Last updated 00:05am (Mla time) 09/10/2006
Published on Page A18 of the September 10, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer


THE Department of Health (DOH) has identified the areas in Metro Manila where clustering of dengue cases have been reported.


Clustering means two or three cases have been reported in the last two to four weeks.


The areas include:
Libis, Talisay, Lapu-Lapu-Maypajo, Julian Felipe-Sangandaan and Phases 4, 7, 8, and 9 in Bagong Silang in Caloocan
Acacia, Catmon, Longos, Potrero and Tonsuya in Malabon
Oroquieta-Sta Cruz, Quiricada-Sta Cruz, New Antipolo, Hermosa-Tondo and F. Varona-Tondo in Manila Bayanan, Putatan in Muntinlupa Dagat-Dagatan, Tangos and Tanza in Navotas Moonwalk and Sucat in Para?aque Maybunga in Pasig Tatalon, Tandang Sora, San Bartolome, Payatas, Masambong, Loyola Heights, Holy Spirit, Gulod-Novaliches, Cubao, Commonwealth, Manresa, Batasan Hills and Bagbag in Quezon City. Maharlika Village in Taguig and Ugong, Marulas, Malinta, Karuhatan, Lawang Bato, Gen. T. De Leon and Bigna in Valenzuela.


Clustering of dengue cases have also been reported in Calasiao and Dagupan City in Pangasinan; Baliwag, Marilao, Meycauyan, Sta Maria and San Jose Del Monte in Bulacan; Taytay in Rizal; Dumaguete City, Mabinay, Manjuyod, Tanjay and Bais in Negros Oriental and Itogon in Benguet.


A health official, meanwhile, warned the public against taking aspirin to counter fever suspected to have been caused by dengue-carrying mosquitoes.


?Aspirin will make things worse if you?re suffering from dengue because it will thin your blood. Dengue already thins your blood so you?ll bleed more if you take aspirin,? said Dr. Eric Tayag, officer-in-charge of the DOH National Epidemiology Center.


He added that people who have a running temperature of 38 Celsius or higher for at least two to three days should see a doctor at once.


?Parents should bring their children to a doctor immediately after noticing such symptoms,? he said.


Tayag added that the health department has already ordered hospitals to set up express lanes for patients suspected to have dengue.


?The express lanes are for faster case management and treatment. All suspected cases should be brought immediately to the nearest health facility so they can be checked at once,? he said.


The DOH has taken a new approach to stopping dengue, taking preventive steps at the barangay level, the official said.


According to Health Secretary Dr. Francisco Duque III, the ?search and destroy? approach is effective in fighting dengue.


?This operation is inexpensive because it will only require the demolition of all possible Aedes Aegypti breeding places that include old tires, coconut husks, roof gutters, discarded bottles, flower vases and all stagnant, clean water,? he said in a statement.


Some 13,468 cases have been recorded from Jan. 1 to Aug. 29 this year, including 167 deaths.

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Re: Philippine health department raises alert against dengue fever

DoH issues health advisory against dengue
vhttp://www.mb.com.ph/MAIN2006091074004.html

The Department of Health (DoH) has issued a health advisory against dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), a disease which has affected more than 13,000 people and killed about 167 individuals in the country since January this year.

The DoH?s National Center for Health Promotion (NCHP) and the National Center for Disease Prevention and Control (NCDPC) issued a joint public reminder calling on the people to stay vigilant and observe "pest control measures" to help minimize the risk of DHF in their communities.


The health advisory likewise reminded the public to be observant of the symptoms of dengue and to report to the nearest health center suspected cases to prevent fatal complications like Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS).


Dr. Eric Tayag, director of the National Epidemiology Center (NEC) of the NCDPC, said preventive measures in communities must focus on "search and destroy operations."


He urged residents to organize themselves and clean all possible breeding places of mosquitoes inside and outside houses like water containers, flower vases, cans, rain barrels, old rubber tires and coconut husks.


"Accumulated water from trees and plants must be drained. Water storage containers must be covered. House gutters must also be cleaned to prevent the stagnation of rain water. Proper pest control measures must be observed and the use of insect repellants must be encouraged," Tayag said.


The NCHP and the NCDPC said DHF is treatable particularly in its early stages "so it is important to recognize its symptoms early on for proper treatment."


Common symptoms of dengue include the sudden onset of high fever lasting two to seven days, joint and muscle pain, pain behind the eyes, weakness, skin rashes (maculopapular rash or red tiny spots called petechiae), nose and gum bleeding when fever starts to subside, abdominal pain, vomiting coffeecolored matter and darkcolored stools.


Red Cross intensifies blood-letting to help dengue patients
The Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) has intensified its voluntary blood-letting campaign to provide blood to the rising number of dengue patients in Rizal.


In the past week alone, the PNRC Rizal Chapter has provided blood to a total of 60 patients from various municipalities in Rizal. The chapter serves an average of nine dengue patients a day.


"So far we have responded well to blood requests," said Dr. Teresita Arguelles, regional director for the National Capital Region and Southern Luzon. "But the demand is growing fast so we?re bolstering our blood campaign efforts to replenish our depleting supply."


PNRC chairman Richard J. Gordon, for his part, reiterated his advocacy and promotion of voluntary blood donation to ensure enough supply in the event of disasters or epidemics. "The PNRC is now one of the only two organizations in the country allowed to maintain a blood bank," Gordon said.
"Our blood centers have first-rate equipment that ensures quality of blood, so people who come to us can rest assured that they?re getting safe blood," he said.


The Rizal chapter has organized several bloodletting drives in the coming days, including those that will be conducted in Don Bosco?Makati and Pasig Bethel Church on Sept. 10; and the one at the Rizal Technological University the following week.


The dengue outbreak prompted authorities to announce a state of calamity in several Rizal towns. In Morong, three children reportedly died while 10 more are being treated at the Rizal Memorial Hospital.


Out of the reported 384 dengue cases in Rizal from January to August this year, 24 have already died.


For details on how to donate blood, please call the PNRC hotline at 5270000 (loc. 150) or visit their website.
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Re: Philippine health department raises alert against dengue fever

Dengue-hit Rizal towns under state of calamity
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/topofthehour.aspx?StoryId=49912

The towns of Morong, Teresa and San Mateo in Rizal province have been placed under a state of calamity because of the rising number of dengue cases, ANC reported Saturday.


"Mabuti na rin un kasi 'pag may outbreak [o] state of calamity, maglalabas ng dagdag na pondo (That's better because if there's an outbreak or a state of calamity declaration, more funds will be released)," Dr. Aser Ram of the provincial health office said..


The declaration by the provincial health office came after the Department of Health on Friday declared a dengue outbreak in Morong's Barangay Maybangkal after the village reported 30 cases.


Health officials said two people have died of the disease in the province. They have also recorded 25 new cases on Friday.


The town of Angono reported 13 cases while in Binangonan, seven people were taken to hospitals after showing dengue symptoms. In Morong, four people have so far been rushed to hospitals while one patient was reported in Teresa town.


DOH said that from January to September this year, dengue cases hit 727 nationwide, with 30 of the victims succumbing to the killer disease.


The provincial government of Rizal, meanwhile, said it has enough funds to deal with the rising number of dengue cases in the province.


Officials, however, said they need more blood supply for victims in hospitals.

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