Bulacan all out war against Dengue

Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado wrote an open letter to Bulakenyos encouraging everyone to participate in an all out war against dengue after declaring a dengue outbreak in Bulacan recently due to alarming increase in the number of dengue cases.

In his letter, the governor said that due to the reports of continuous rise of dengue cases wherein a few have died, every Bulakenyo should participate and revive the every Friday clean up drive in all the barangays and to search and empty containers or buckets with stagnant water where mosquito larvae live and other areas or places where mosquitoes might lay eggs. 

Alvarado also said to seek early consultation if one is experiencing dengue symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, severe pain behind the eyes, joint, muscle and bone pain, rash, mild bleeding of nose or gums, easy bruising, loss of appetite and vomiting.

The governor also said that government-owned hospitals in the province give free medication for dengue including Bulacan Medical Center,  Rogaciano Mercado Memorial Hospital (Santa Maria),  San Miguel District Hospital (San Miguel),  Emilio Perez District Hospital (Hagonoy),  Gregorio del Pilar District Hospital (Bulakan),  Baliwag District Hospital (Baliwag) and Calsumpit District Hospital (Calumpit)while health centers offer free consultation.

Alvarado also stressed the need for voluntary blood donation which is essential in dengue control. Interested individuals may coordinate with Bulacan Provincial Blood Center at telephone number 662-5427.

According to the Provincial Public Health Office 4,033 reported dengue cases that were consolidated and analyzed under the Dengue Surveillance of Provincial Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit from January 1 to September 12, 2015 came from the different Disease Reporting Units of the province including 53.5% from government hospitals, 34.9% from private hospitals and 11.5% from the rural health units.

The PPHO also says that 91.4% of reported cases were admitted and 8.6% were out-patient cases.

Further, the number of cases this year was 227% higher (cumulative increase) compared from 2014 with 1,233 cases during the same period. Ten fatalities were also reported; four from San Rafael, one each from cities of San Jose del Monte and Malolos, and from Pulilan, Angat, Guiguinto and Norzagaray.

Municipalities and cities with the highest number of dengue cases as reported are City of San Jose Del Monte with 562 cases, San Rafael with 373, Santa Maria with 364, Bustos with 286 and San Miguel with 266.