QC dengue cases down by 22% amid nat’l epidemic

In a statement, Belmonte reported that a total of 2,730 dengue cases with 21 deaths were reported from January 1 to July 27, 2019. (File Photo: Joy Belmonte/Facebook)

MANILA — Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Wednesday announced a 22-percent drop in the number of dengue cases in the city compared to the same period last year.

In a statement, Belmonte reported that a total of 2,730 dengue cases with 21 deaths were reported from January 1 to July 27, 2019.

According to the QC Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (QC-ESU), there were 3,498 cases and 26 deaths for the same period in 2018.

The QC-ESU added that the city recorded 7,527 dengue cases with 75 deaths in 2017 and 8,158 cases with 74 deaths in 2018.

Despite the drop in the dengue incidents, Belmonte ordered concerned local agencies and barangay officials “to remain vigilant and to double their efforts in combating dengue” following the government’s declaration of a national epidemic.

“Inaatasan ko ang mga kaukulang tanggapan ng siyudad, lalo na ang ating City Health Office, at mga barangay official na paigtingin pa ang kampanya ngayong idineklara na bilang national epidemic ang dengue (I order the respective city offices, especially our City Health Office and barangay officials to strengthen the (city’s) campaign now that the national dengue epidemic has been declared),” Belmonte said.

Citing that the local government already had several measures in place as part of the efforts against dengue, Belmonte assured residents of the availability of rapid diagnostics test kits or NS1 in health centers.

According to the Department of Health, these kits help diagnose and assess dengue cases, and arrange a referral mechanism for patients with warning signs of dengue and need immediate hospitalization to government hospitals within the city.

“Ngayon, kailangan lang nating paigtingin ang mga pagkilos na ito lalo na sa (Now, we just have to strengthen our efforts especially in the) top 10 barangays with the highest number of dengue cases in the first six months of 2019, including Payatas A and B, Commonwealth, Batasan, Fairview, Kamuning, Tatalon, Pasong Tamo, Tandang Sora, Bagong Silangan and Bagbag,” Belmonte said.

Belmonte has also instructed the Barangay and Community Relation Department and the Environmental Protection and Waste Management Department to maintain the city’s cleanliness and get rid of mosquito breeding grounds.