Thursday, June 4, 2009

Dengue cases diving in the Philippines

Philippine Information Agency: The government drive to reduce dengue cases is taking effect, the Department of Health reported Wednesday. During the launching of the government's nationwide anti-dengue campaign in Tondo, Manila, Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque said the drop in cases is motivating government health workers to improve their services further.

"We are heartened by the heroic efforts of all those who worked hard so that there is a big 57.4% decrease in the number of dengue cases compared to the same period last year," Duque revealed, adding that even the case fatality rate has lowered to .9% compared to the 1% recorded in the same period. Duque disclosed that the first five months this year already showed a steady decrease in the number of cases.

Data showed that from January to May 9, there were only 6,537 cases recorded with 62 deaths; the previous year's (same period) figure was 15,334 cases with 163 deaths. Duque cited the role of the local chief executives in spearheading the campaign in their respective localities against the dreaded disease.

"Our success last year, however, should not lull us into complacency this year," Duque noted adding that dengue is now an all-year round phenomenon due to climate change. Duque also underscored diseases common during rainy season called WILD diseases. These consist of waterborne infectious diseases, influenza, leptospirosis, and dengue….

The current range of dengue fever, map created by Percherie, under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2

No comments: