Caloocan dengue cases up 500%
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 08/13/2008 10:47 PM
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Dengue cases in Caloocan City has shot up at an alarming rate as it already listed 994 victims with seven deaths. The number of victims rose more than fivefold from last year when the city had 187 cases.
Records from the Department of Health showed that the 994 victims and seven deaths were all reported from January to August.
The DOH said the victims from Caloocan are included in the 6,822 people who were afflicted with the disease in Metro Manila this year. Of the number, 34 patients have died.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III earlier raised an alert in the cities of Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela (Camanava) because of the alarming increase in dengue cases.
Duque also urged the public to clean their surroundings, especially areas known to breed dengue-carrying mosquitoes such as stagnant water, including those in tin cans, bottles and old tires.
He added that detection of the dengue symptoms -- high fever, rashes, severe headache, nausea, vomiting, appetite loss, eye, muscle and joint pains -- could prevent deaths.
Dengue is caused by mosquitoes that suck blood during the day, specifically, the Aedis Aegypti. With a report from Ron Gagalac, ABS-CBN News
