WHO reports PH 'badly hit' by dengue

Tuesday, 02 November 2010 11:30 Joel Ferreras

The World Health Organization (WHO) has listed the Philippines as one of the countries that have been “badly hit” by dengue, as outbreaks were recently observed to be increasing in frequency and size.

According to a press release, WHO said that dengue has already “developed into a major threat to global public health,” with 2.5 billion people worldwide are at risk of dengue. Some 1.8 billion or more than 70 percent reside in Asia Pacific countries.

"Overall, the number of cases in the Western Pacific Region has more than doubled over the past 10 years. Many countries have experienced a significant increase in cases this year, with the Lao People's Democratic Republic and the Philippines particularly badly hit."

Sharp spike

Bombo Radyo said that according to the Department of Health (DOH)'s latest report, a total of 90,771 cases have already been recorded from January to September this year.

Health Secretary Enrique Ona said that the figure is 124.37 percent higher than 40,456 recorded cases in the same period last year.

Region VI was reported to have increased by 18.3 percent in the number of victims, while Region IV-A saw a 12.5 percent increase. The National Capital Region recorded a 9.9 percent rise, followed by Region XII with a 9.1 percent increase. Region VIII recorded an 8.8 percent increase of dengue cases.

In August, the DOH has already seen the sharp spike in the number of dengue victims compared to the previous year's records.

Compared to 33,102 reported cases in January to August last year, 62,503 people were reported to have been afflicted with the disease during the same period this year.

Record high

This year's August figure has already breached the previous highest record of 57,636 which was in 2010, according to Dr. Eric Tayag, director of the National Epidemiology Center.

“We've already passed the 57,636 cases registered last year. We have 485 deaths due to dengue as of August, which is lower than the 548 deaths last year,” an Inquirer report quoted Dr. Tayag. He feared that the death toll this year could par with last year's before the year ends.

“We hope we don't reach that number but the trend tells us it will. If the reported cases reach 80,000 and one percent of those die, that means we could have 800 deaths,” he said.

As of September, 501 deaths have been recorded so far, DOH noted.

D.E.N.G.U.E. strategy

In a move to help decongest hospitals, the DOH assured the public that not all dengue cases require hospital confinement. Recently, the health department devised a strategy to educate the public on home treatment of mild dengue cases.

“Instead of confining patients in a hospital facility, parents and caregivers can practice the D.E.N.G.U.E. strategy,” says Ona. “D [stands for] daily monitoring of patient's status, E – encourage intake of oral fluids like oresol, water, juices, etc., N – note any dengue warning signs like persistent vomiting and bleeding, G – give paracetamol and not aspirin, because aspirin induces bleeding, U – use mosquito nets and E – early consultation is advised for any warning signs,” he continued.

The health department also reiterated the measures to avoid the proliferation of dengue-carrying mosquitoes. It included emptying of all exposed containers and vases, old tires, coconut husks, and plants of stagnant waters which are probable breeding sites.

Female aedes aegypti mosquitoes carry the dengue virus. If bitten, dengue symptoms appear in 3-14 days and range from a mild fever, to incapacitating high fever, with severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, and rash.

Dengue hemorrhagic fever (fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, bleeding) is a potentially lethal complication, affecting mainly children. Early clinical diagnosis and careful clinical management by experienced physicians and nurses increase survival of patients, according to WHO.

Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites