Dengue cases in Aklan rising

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

Dengue-related cases in Aklan registered 750 for the period January 1 to July 29, up by 33 percent compared to 563 cases last year, the Provincial Health Office (PHO) reported. 

Dengue program coordinator Roger Debuque said

majority of the cases belongs to age group 11 to 20 years old with 261 cases or 35 percent of the total dengue cases. Two people in Balete and Banga also died due to dengue fever in the first seven months of the year.

The rainy month of June has the highest number of dengue cases with 194 during the covered period. 

To eliminate dengue, the PHO urged the communities to activate Aksyon Barangay Kontra Dengue, involve schools in 4 o’clock habit and intensify advocacies on dengue prevention and control. 

"There are four factors why there are dengue cases. These are mosquito, virus, human and environment. The concerted efforts of the communities and the local governments will also help eliminate dengue cases," he added. 

Data from PHO-Aklan also showed dengue reporting units with dengue cases are Aklan provincial hospital with 228 followed by St. Gabriel Medical Center with 226,  Panay Health Care Multi-purpose Cooperative with 124 and Altavas District Hospital with 81 cases.

 

Aklan Cooperative Mission Hospital also reported 35 cases, St. Jude Hospital with 12, Aklan Baptist Hospital in Malay with 9,   Ibajay  District Hospital with 7, Malay Municipal Hospital  with 3 and Ciriaco Tirol Hospital in Boracay Island with 2 cases. 

Three rural health units also reported – Tangalan with two dengue cases and Madalag and Banga with one cases each.

The capital town of Kalibo accounted the bulk of dengue cases with 167 followed by Batan with 67 and Altavas 62. All other towns in Aklan - Banga, Numancia, Madalag, Malay, Makato, New Washington, Tangalan, Libacao, Malinao, Balete, Lezo, Ibajay, Nabas and  Buruanga also reported dengue cases. 

On the other hand, mosquito borne disease called “chikungunya” have 21 cases in Aklan and 8 are considered positive.