Davao City tops dengue cases, but no epidemic in region

DAVAO CITY–This city recorded the highest dengue cases in Davao Region with 2,168 persons falling ill from deadly mosquito bites in the last eight months of the year, an official of the Department of the Health (DOH) said Wednesday.
    
Abdullah Dumama Jr., DOH-Assistant Secretary for Visayas and Mindanao, said 11 persons have already died of dengue in the city from January to August 5 this year.
    
Dumama said Region 11 has a total of 4,345 cases with 21 deaths during the same period, compared to 2,690 cases and 14 deaths in 2018.
    
“Despite the number of cases, Davao Region has not reached the alert epidemic threshold yet,” Dumama said during a press briefing here.
    
In terms of the number of cases, DOH records show that Compostela Valley Province ranked second next to Davao City with 788 cases and one death, followed by Davao Oriental with 641 cases and one death.
    
Davao del Norte registered 562 cases with six deaths, followed by Davao del Sur with 151 cases and one death, while Davao Occidental has 35 cases and one death.
    
To better respond to the influx of patients, Dumama said the government-run Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) based in this city has already created a fast lane for dengue cases. An exclusive ward for dengue patients, he said, has also been designated.
    
Dumama also assured that blood supply is enough not only in the region but in the entire country.
    
On Tuesday (August 6), DOH declared a national dengue epidemic in the wake of the 146,062 cases recorded since January up to July 20 this year, 98% higher than the same period in 2018.
    
A total of 622 deaths have been recorded in the entire country in the same period. (PNA)