BORONGAN, July 22, 2019—With a record of 803 dengue cases as of July 19, Eastern Samar has already crossed the epidemic threshold according to the Provincial Health Office.
Dr. Rodel N. Delgado, the Chief Technical Officer of PHO Eastern Samar, disclosed that the current incidence of dengue cases has surpassed the highest record of dengue cases in the past five years.
The recorded 803 incidence of dengue cases is 86% higher than the total incidence of dengue cases recorded for the year 2018.
Based on the report of PHO Eastern Samar there are already 9 recorded fatalities due to dengue.
Of the 9 fatalities, 4 are from Guiuan, 1 each from Borongan, Hernani, General McArthur, Taft, and Quinapondan.
These 9 recorded deaths in July are almost at par to the 15 recorded fatalities in 2018.
Dr. Delgado said that Borongan City is considered as the most affected in Eastern Samar as there are 147 recorded incidence of dengue; 59 of these happened just within the past three weeks.
Next to Borongan is Guiuan with 107, Taft with 58, Quinapondan with 54, and 51 each for MacArthur and Maydolong. This is based from the consolidated records of both private and public hospitals submitted to the PHO.
Delgado clarified that the PHO is not declaring any outbreak because according to him technically an outbreak would mean that the Provincial Health Office can no longer control the disease.
He maintains that the PHO still has the capacity to control dengue and is currently coordinating with the Department of Health in applying various measures in controlling the disease.
Delgado said that “reaching the epidemic threshold calls for a more intensive and aggressive approach to controlling the dengue.”
Delgado reiterates PHO’s appeal for the public to observed the 4S in controlling the disease, which includes search and destroy, seek early consultation, self-protection measures, and say no to fogging. (Hazel Llaneta / ESTE News)
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