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Increase in deaths caused by dengue alarms officials
   CEBU CITY, Oct. 1 2002 (PNA) -- The increase in the fatality rate of
dengue fever in Central Visayas this year has raised concern among
health officials here.

   Although there is a noted decrease in the number of afflicted
persons this year, the number of deaths, however, went up.

   Data from the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit 7 (RESU-7)
sentinel hospitals in this city revealed that from January to
September 14 last year, 3,028 cases were recorded, with 32 deaths.

   For the same period this year, the number of deaths rose to 41,
although only 1,233 cases were recorded. Ninety-six percent of the
cases were from the province of Cebu.

   As of September, there is no reported outbreak or hotspots, but RESU
chief Juanito Zuasula said clustering of cases, where there are more
than three cases in a month, are seen in some cities and
municipalities in the province.         

   In Cebu City, clustering of cases are noted in the barangays of
Guadalupe, Banawa, Basak, Pardo and Tisa. There is also clustering in
Mandaue City, Minglanilla, Talisay City and Toledo City.

   "If we notice clustering, we immediately inform the local officials
so they can do some preventive measures to prevent an outbreak," he
said.

   With the increase in the fatality rate, Department of Health (DOH)
Secretary Manuel Dayrit issued Department Order 200-A last July 22 to
conduct a barangay-to-barangay campaign nationwide to intensify
elimination of breeding sites of mosquitoes.

   The order requires the development of dengue brigade at all levels
of the health organization with the lowest level at the
purok/barangay, with the barangay captain as head.

      Its members will be composed of public health nurse/rural
health midwife, councilmen, teachers, Department of Social Welfare
and Development (DSWD) representative and socio-civic/religious
professional organizations.

   Dayrit also emphasized that chemical fumigation (fogging) and
burning of trash is ineffective since they can only kill adult
mosquitoes or drive them away temporarily. They are also hazardous to
human health and the environment.

   According to Zuasula, the improper practices of the people and the
lack of concern for cleanliness, especially in the remote
municipalities and barangays, contributed much to the increase in the
fatality rate.

   "We are quite surprised that the cases are lower but the distributed
in the municipalities of Cebu province. The LGUs (local government
units) are not sold out in implementing environmental clean up," he
said.

   He explained that LGUs should not rely on fogging because they could
not kill the larvae and eggs of the Aedes Aegypti or the
dengue-causing mosquitoes.

   Elimination of breeding sites, cleanliness and proper waste
management are the key factors in preventing the disease, he said.

   With the coming of El Nino, he said the public should be responsible
in storing their water supplies so mosquitoes would not use them as
breeding sites.

   "Cover all your water container tighly." he said. (PNA)

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