Dengue outbreak declared

in Cavite
Province now under state of calamity as cases reach 4,225 with 22 deaths

By: Maricar Cinco - Reporter / @maricarcincoINQ

Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:18 AM July 24, 2019

PESKY, DEADLY INSECT An antidengue mural at San Lazaro Hospital in

Manila reminds people about the government’s fight against disease-
carrying mosquitoes. Recently, the Department of Health declared a
national alert due to the increasing cases of dengue. —MARIANNE
BERMUDEZ

SAN PEDRO CITY, Laguna, Philippines — The provincial health office in

Cavite is proposing a year-round, government-led “search and destroy”
campaign targeting breeding areas of mosquitoes, amid an outbreak of
dengue in the province.

Cavite, home to more than 3.6 million people, has recorded 4,225
suspected and confirmed dengue cases from Jan. 1, posting the highest
number of patients in Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and
Quezon) region.
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Last week, the provincial government, led by Gov. Juanito Victor Remulla,
placed the province under a state of calamity to expedite the release of
funds for the purchase of blood supply, intravenous fluids, diagnostic kits
and other medical supplies for patients.

Outbreak

Twenty-two people had died in Cavite, the most recent a 32-year-old man
from Dasmariñas City, said provincial health officer Nelson Soriano in a
telephone interview on Tuesday.

According to Soriano, between 15 and 20 people daily are being confined

at General Emilio Aguinaldo Memorial Hospital, the provincial hospital in
Trece Martires City, leaving some patients with “no choice but to stay on
the hallways.”

“You know what the problem is? This seems to be happening every year,
as if people are not taking it seriously. That’s why we’re proposing to the
provincial [board] to issue a resolution to make ‘search and destroy’ year-
round and not only when there’s an outbreak,” he said.
SEEK AND DESTROY Conducting fogging or misting in areas where
mosquitoes breed is among the methods that local governments are using
to stop the spread of dengue. —MICHAEL B. JAUCIAN

Cavite has declared a dengue outbreak, with nine cities and towns
identified as “hot spots” of the mosquito-borne disease.

The last time health officials declared an outbreak in Cavite was in 2015,
when dengue claimed 48 lives.

Biggest cases

In an emailed report, the regional Department of Health (DOH), also on

Tuesday, said the number of cases had reached 14,925. Fifty-four people,
mostly male, have died in the region, it added.

The DOH said Dasmariñas posted the highest number of cases among
cities in the region with 913, followed by Calamba City in Laguna
province with 661 and Lipa City in Batangas province with 617. Batangas
City recorded 533 cases; Antipolo City in Rizal province, 483; Cabuyao City
in Laguna, 426; Bacoor City in Cavite, 419; Tanauan City in Batangas, 394;
Sta. Rosa City in Laguna, 389; and General Trias in Cavite, 385.

Soriano said the only way to stop the outbreak was for local governments
to strengthen their solid waste and environmental management
programs. He also urged local officials to improve water supply in their
communities to prevent households from keeping water in containers for
extended periods because these would only turn into breeding grounds of
mosquitoes.

Cavite under state of calamity due

to dengue outbreak
Published July 18, 2019, 8:27 PM

By Anthony Giron

TRECE MARTIRES CITY, Cavite—Governor Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla Jr. has declared a
province-wide dengue outbreak and state of calamity in the province due to increased deaths
and cases.

Remulla made the pronouncement on Thursday, July 18, upon recommendation of the
Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP or Provincial Council) and the Provincial Health Office (PHO).

The move was made to instill awareness among the citizens, conduct actions and implement
measures in the fight against dengue

The Cavite Provincial Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (PESU) said that the dengue outbreak had
been declared in at least two cities and six municipalities in the province’s upland and lowland
districts.
The latest PESU update report—the period from January 1 to July 13—revealed that 18 dengue
deaths and 3,605 cases have already been recorded in the province.

The outbreak was initially declared in the cities of Dasmariñas and General Trias and the
municipalities of Alfonso, Carmona, General Mariano Alvarez (GMA), Indang, Naic and Silang.

The outbreak areas and the increasing number of dengue cases in other areas prompted the
provincial government to declare the province-wide dengue outbreak and state of calamity.

The provincial pronouncement came only a few days after the Department of Health (DoH)
declared a national dengue alert in the country.

Remulla called the province-wide dengue outbreak and state of calamity after a resolution was
made by Provincial Board Member Kerby J. Salazar, Committee on Health, Nutrition and
Population, citing actions on the province’s dengue situation.

Salazar’s resolution also called for the release of at least P4 million as assistance to anti-dengue
responses.

Dengue is being spread by the Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes year-round and that it is incurable
and can be fatal to anyone afflicted, particularly the children. Symptoms include severe fever
and rashes.

Provincial Epidemiologist Nelson Soriano and his staff and doctors and health personnel have
been in the field since Monday to monitor the dengue situation.

Soriano called on the citizens to seek medical assistance once if symptoms persist and always
clean their surroundings in a bid to prevent the virus.

“We need a united stand in the fight against dengue, the must are the awareness, and the 4S
against the virus,” he said. 4S stands for Search and Destroy, Self-Protection Measures, Seek
Early Consultation and Say Yes to Fogging.

The provincial government declared the province-wide dengue outbreak and the placed the
whole province in a state of calamity the last time on September 19, 2015. A total of 48 deaths
and 12,007 cases were reported from January 1 to December 31 in 2015.