VECTOR-BORNE ILLNESSES TO FURTHER INCREASE AS EXTREME WEATHER PERSIST – DOH

Cases of dengue and leptospirosis in the National Capital Region have been rising, the incidences were worse than previous years (Photo courtesy of ABS-CBN News)

The Department of Health (DOH) has reported steadily increase in dengue and leptospirosis cases in the National Capital Region (NCR) and may further increase in the coming weeks following the flooding brought by the recent typhoons.

Department of Health- Metro Manila Center for Health Development (DOH-MMCHD) Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit Mary Grace Labayen said that Metro Manila has already reached the alert threshold for dengue regionally.

DOH data showed 24, 232 dengue cases logged in NCR from January 1 to October 26 this year. The figure is 34.47 percent higher than last year, and 53 percent more than the numbers over the past five years.

Most of the cases were recorded in Quezon City, while Pateros had the highest “attack rate” described as a measure of proportion of people who become ill after being exposed to a disease.

With 14 out of 17 areas in Metro Manila noting a rise in dengue infection, the remaining three are not spared from the possibility of more infections.

“When the alert threshold is reached, it means that the number of cases is higher than normal so it is necessary to be cautious and implement measures so that the disease does not worsen or spread,” Labayen explained.

Meanwhile, leptospirosis accounted for a total of 2,734 cases in Metro Manila during the same period. This figure is 90.92 percent higher in comparison to the same period last year, and 159.64 percent higher compared to the last five years.

Quezon City again had the highest leptospirosis cases, while municipality of Pateros had the highest attack rate. The DOH emphasized that both diseases called for intensified public health interventions to rein in the incidence, minimize fatalities, and ward off outbreaks.

“We are closely looking at these areas especially since they are dense. They also have other priorities which is why they may not always get to clean breeding sites. That's why they really need the help and assistance of the local government, the DOH and other partners for the right information,” MMCHD Director Dr. Rio Magpantay says.

Source: Manila Standard 

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