Because it's rainy season, it is expected that dengue cases will increase, Department of Health- Spokesperson Dr. Eric Tayag said in a press conference held in Tayuman, Sta. Cruz, Manila.
DOH cited on Tuesday that there are 84,085 dengue cases from the period of Jan. 1 to Aug. 6, 2016, and having 15.8 percent increase compare to the 72,627 dengue cases during the same period last year.
If any barangay of municipality or in provinces have recorded dengue cases for 4 consecutive weeks a dengue alert zone is being declared to that area.
Also, the government hospitals were put in an alert mode, to activate dengue express lanes and respond immediately for treating and guiding patients suspected dengue, when a certain barangay was put on a dengue hotzone, Tayag said.
However, Tayag explained that there was no epidemic happening yet.
We also have to do our part as citizen, we have to clean our environment.
“Let us search together the portions where clear stagnant water are being stored…we have to cover them so that mosquitoes will not be able to lay their egg there,” Tayag said.
There are 372 death cases for dengue in total this year.
Here are the list of provinces considered as dengue hotzones; Pangasinan, Pampanga, Zambales, Batangas, Laguna, Rizal, Oriental Mindoro, Antique, Negros Occidental, Cebu, Negros Oriental, Southern Leyte, Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Apayao, Benguet and Metro Manila.
Meanwhile, Tayag explained that not all municipalities and barangays under the said provinces are dengue hotzones.
He stated for example the NCR which Pasig City and Quezon City are on the list.
And on its list only Barangay Pinagbuhatan is in Pasig City and Barangay Fairview, Batasan Hills, Pinyahan and Holy Spirit are in Quezon City.
Source: PNA