MANILA – Alarm bells were rung in Tuguegarao City in Cagayan province after 3 deaths attributed to the dreaded dengue virus.

The alarm was raised by the Tuguegarao City Health Office also after the number of cases due to the mosquito-borne virus surged in July.

The three fatalities were a 72-year old woman in Barangay Buntun, an 11-year old girl in Barangay Annafunan East and a 7-year old pupil from Barangay Linao East.

“Nakakagulat kasi 32 noong January to June and now biglang 50. Almost double base sa hospital records na nakuha din natin,” said Dr. James Guzman, Tuguegarao City health officer.

Guzman said that no fatalities due to dengue were recorded in the January to June period.

Sanitation teams were deployed in the city’s barangays especially in the areas where there were fatalities.

The city health office has also tightened coordination with hospitals in the city. “Kalimitan kasi, malala na ang mga pasyente bago magpa-ospital, tulad ng nangyari sa dalawang namatay,” said Guzman.

The city’s health officer called on city residents to cooperate in cleaning their surroundings to stop the breeding of the mosquitoes that carry the dengue virus. From a report of Brigette Mayor, ABS-CBN Cagayan Valley