MikeLigalig.com

CLARK FREEPORT, Pampanga -- The Department of Health (DOH) on Friday asked the public not to worry as there is no Japanese encephalitis outbreak in Pampanga and anywhere in the country.

Ma. Wilda Silva, head of the DOH Family Health Cluster, during the Regional Advocacy Forum on Japanese encephalitis held at Royce Hotel and Casino here on Friday, said the mosquito-borne disease has been here in the Philippines decades ago and the country has recorded more cases in 2016 as compared to this year.

Reports from DOH indicated that 133 confirmed Japanese encephalitis cases as of August 26 this year nationwide, which is 44 percent lower compared to the same period last year.

Out of the total number, 53 cases are from Central Luzon.  Nine deaths have also been confirmed -- four from Pampanga, two from Zambales, and three from Pangasinan, Laguna and Nueva Ecija.

It can be noted that DOH Region III topped other regional offices in the country in reporting the results of their surveillance and monitoring efforts for mosquito-borne diseases, thus it has recorded the most number of cases.

The mosquito-borne disease is transmitted through bites of Culex mosquito with less than one percent of those bitten develop Japanese encephalitis. But those who show symptoms of the disease have 20% to 30% mortality rate.

"We are working hard in procuring the vaccines and we are working on bringing the vaccine in the country for public consumption. This will be available in 2018," Silva said.

She, however, stressed that vaccine is just a form of prevention.

Silva said that the concentration should be on identification and destruction of breeding sites of mosquitoes and environmental cleanliness.

During the same forum, Health Assistant Secretary Leonita P. Gorgolon said that the regional advocacy aims to resolve appropriate intervention on such emerging virus and to identify strategies on how to prevent and control Japanese encephalitis in their respective locality. (PNA)



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