16 August 2005
6 die, 234 downed by dengue
SIX persons have died and 234 others downed by dengue fever in Pangasinan in July alone, according to a report of the provincial office of the Department of Health.
Dr. Jesus Soriano of the DOH said 154 of these were treated at the Region I Medical Center in Dagupan and 80 others at the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital in San Carlos City and various district hospitals all over the province.
Of the six fatalities, five were from Sison, near the La Uniion border, and one in Dagupan City.
The list did not include those admitted to various private hospitals.
A report said that 54 of those downed by dengue came from Binalonan, the first town in Pangasinan to declare a state of calamity which declaration was however vetoed by their municipal mayor, Ramon Guico, Jr., contending that this had no basis and that the threat of dengue in the town was not as grave.
The number of dengue cases is expected to rise further this month of August as the rainy season continues. These will however taper off starting September, healthmen report.
Soriano said fogging operations are now going on in Sison, Binalonan, Malasiqui, Bayambang, Bautista, Lingayen, Calasiao and Dagupan to drive away the aedes Aegypti mosquito that causes dengue.
He admitted however, that fogging operation is not as effective as environmental sanitation in preventing the disease.
Gov. Victor Agbayani has ordered massive fogging operations and enjoined all local officials and school heads to adopt the four o-clock habit by simultaneously cleaning their work places.
Meanwhile, in Dagupan City, only eight cases have so far been recorded from August 1 to 6, the city health office said. Last year, 33 cases were reported in August.
Dr. Jesus Soriano of the DOH said 154 of these were treated at the Region I Medical Center in Dagupan and 80 others at the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital in San Carlos City and various district hospitals all over the province.
Of the six fatalities, five were from Sison, near the La Uniion border, and one in Dagupan City.
The list did not include those admitted to various private hospitals.
A report said that 54 of those downed by dengue came from Binalonan, the first town in Pangasinan to declare a state of calamity which declaration was however vetoed by their municipal mayor, Ramon Guico, Jr., contending that this had no basis and that the threat of dengue in the town was not as grave.
The number of dengue cases is expected to rise further this month of August as the rainy season continues. These will however taper off starting September, healthmen report.
Soriano said fogging operations are now going on in Sison, Binalonan, Malasiqui, Bayambang, Bautista, Lingayen, Calasiao and Dagupan to drive away the aedes Aegypti mosquito that causes dengue.
He admitted however, that fogging operation is not as effective as environmental sanitation in preventing the disease.
Gov. Victor Agbayani has ordered massive fogging operations and enjoined all local officials and school heads to adopt the four o-clock habit by simultaneously cleaning their work places.
Meanwhile, in Dagupan City, only eight cases have so far been recorded from August 1 to 6, the city health office said. Last year, 33 cases were reported in August.
