Cavite employs tougher anti - dengue measures

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TRECE MARTIRES, Cavite – The Cavite Provincial Health Office (PHO) set in motion a tougher, more comprehensive action plan against dengue as three new deaths were reported in the province this year.

The action plan, including an uncompromising anti-dengue campaign in barangay (village) level, was tackled during the PHO’s consultative meeting held over the weekend at Cavite Collaboration Center for Public Health auditorium in this city.

The meeting, the first for the year, was led by Provincial Health Officer I Dr. Gilberto Ilog, Infective Disease Cluster Head Dr. Ma. Hilda Bucu and Health Education Promotion Officer II Annabelle R. Dilig and was participated in by the dengue coordinators from 17 city and municipality health offices.

The PHO is holding its consultative meeting quarterly for dengue monitoring and updates.

The Provincial Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (PESU) reported three dengue deaths from the 333 cases recorded in the province’s lowland and upland districts last month.

It was reported that the top five areas with the most number of dengue cases last January were General Trias, Imus, Bacoor , Dasmariñas, and this city.

General Trias reported two dengue deaths and Dasmariñas one. The new cases for the year were recorded in the seven districts of the province.

In 2015, Dasmariñas had the most number of deaths with 22.

Although the PESU reported that the 333 cases were lower by 42 percent compared to the same period in 2015 with 577, health and provincial officers see no need to lift the dengue alert.

The PHO withheld latest dengue trending details pending the epidemic threshold observation. The threshold is a statistical gauge which determines the dengue level or any other epidemics in the area.

The provincial government and the PHO officially declared dengue outbreak and placed all seven districts under a state of calamity on Sept. 21, 2015 following the death and case number upsurge in seven cities and 16 municipalities.