Dept. of Health declares national dengue epidemic

Dengue has now taken the top 1 priority of the Department of Health (DOH). It has just declared a National Dengue Epidemic.

Since the start of the year January to July 20, there has been 146,062 dengue recorded cases and there has been 622 dengue deaths as of the moment this year.

The declaration took place after a full council meeting at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

DOH Secretary francisco Duque III and DND Secretary Delfin Lorenzana
(photo credit to owner)

 DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III said, the reported cases are 98 percent higher compared to the same period in 2018.

"It is important that a National Epidemic be declared to identify if a localized response is needed, and to enable the local government units to use their Quick Response Fund to address the epidemic situation," Duque said.

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) chair and Department of National Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana reminded all disaster response unit in the country via a memorandum for the strict implementation of the national dengue epidemic declaration.

"In connection with today's full NDRRMC council meeting, I, as the chairman of the NDRRMC, issued a memorandum circular subject, enjoining all member agencies to support the nationwide dengue epidemic response. Ibig sabihin nito lahat ng mga member ng NDRRMC na agencies (This means all member agencies of NDRRMC) will now support the efforts of the DOH to stop this epidemic, or eliminate this epidemic once and for all," he said.

As per DOH Dengue Surveillance Report, Region 6 (Western Visayas) has the most number of cases at 23,330 followed by Region 4-A (Calabarzon) with 16,515; Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula) with 12,317; Region 10 (Northern Mindanao) with 11,455 and Region 12 (Soccsksargen) with 11,083.

Meanwhile, seven out of the 17 regions have exceeded the epidemic threshold of dengue for the past three consecutive weeks.

These regions are Calabarzon with 16,515; Mimaropa with 4,254; Region 5 (Bicol) with 3,470; Western Visayas with 23,330; Region 8 (Eastern Visayas) with 7,199; Zamboanga Peninsula with 12,317; and Northern Mindanao with 11,455 cases.

Other regions exceeded the alert threshold level like Region 1 (Ilocos) with 4,396 cases; Region 7 (Central Visayas) with 10,728; and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao with 2,301.

Health Secretary Duque said the total number of cases nationwide for the 29th Morbidity Week alone (July 14 to 20) is at 10,502, or 71 percent higher compared to the same period in 2018.

One effect of declaring a National Dengue Epidemic declaration, the DOH, together with other government agencies, local government units (LGUs), schools, offices, and communities will be conducting the ““Sabayang 4-o'clock Habit para Deng-Get Out,” campaign to destroy breeding sites of the disease carrying mosquitoes.

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Report from PNA