MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan – Dengue cases in this province declined by 43 percent in the first seven months of this year compared to the same period in 2015.
Based on the report of the Provincial Epidemiology & Surveillance Unit (PESU) of the Provincial Public Health Office (PPHO), there are 1,319 reported dengue cases from January 1 to July 30, this year, as against 2,318 cases in the same period last year.
Of the total dengue cases, 89 percent were admitted in hospitals while 11 percent were outpatient.
PESU records showed that municipalities and cities with the highest number of reported dengue cases were Plaridel with 152; San Miguel with 141; City of San Jose del Monte with 113; City of Malolos with 99 ; and Baliuag and Santa Maria with 90 each.
Despite this development, Governor Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado reminded the Bulakenyos not to be complacent.
The governor asked the residents to continue cleaning their surroundings and be more vigilant when it comes to dengue symptoms.
He also urged his provincemates to exercise the following anti-dengue measures : have a massive cleaning operation in every barangay; regularly conduct a search and destroy operations on the breeding grounds and habitat of the “Aedes aegypti” mosquito, the main vector that transmits the viruses of dengue.
The governor also advised Bulakenyos to make consultations with health centers or hospitals when they experience these symptoms: having a fever for two straight days or more; redness of skin due to fever; lost of appetite; dizziness and vomiting; stomach ache: stomach discomfort and nose bleeding or gum bleeding.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health through the PPHO and the Department of Education (DepEd) launched the vaccination against dengue program in March to Grade 4 pupils, ages nine and up and are enrolled for the year 2015-2016.
The 61,361 target pupils who were already given vaccines will receive another shot after six months to ensure their protection against the deadly disease.
The next schedule of vaccination will be in October, November, December 2016 and April, May and June 2017. (PNA)/FPV/ZST/EGGAMOS