Clean-up and health education campaign, effective against dengue

Three cases of dengue fever were admitted at the sentinel sites for the 23rd morbidity week.  A total of one hundred fifteen cases of dengue fever were admitted at the different sentinel sites from January 1 to June 7, 2008. This number of admission is 195% higher compared to the same period last year (39 cases). Ages of cases ranged from 3 months to 48 years old with a median of 18 and mode of 15. Majority of the cases were male (55%). The municipality with the most number of cases is Limay with 31 cases (27%) followed by Dinalupihan with 28 cases (24%). There were five fatalities for this year (CFR -  4.34%).

  Only cases admitted in sentinel hospitals and confirmed by the PHO-PESSU based on NEC-DOH criteria are included  in this report.  The PESSU report or data serves as an early warning against outbreak.  Trending of occurrences of a particular disease, as a tool provided by PESSU, should be complemented by the local data available in each municipality or city. 

  Efficient control and prevention activities are warranted by available data in terms of cost-effectiveness, long-term-effectivity (and can be duplicated locally).  Search and destroy and health education activities are proven effective.    Involving the community in this kind of activities, via multi-level networking or multiplier-effect, minimized resources and effort and promote healthy-behavioral-change among community members.

  The Dengue Alert Codes, such as White (no case), Green (with case[s] but no clustering), Yellow (clustering of cases), Orange (there’s a mortality in an area) and Red (outbreak, more than expected number of cases) are appraisal of dengue status and provides guidance on what action to take.

Fig. 1  Distribution of Dengue Fever Cases by Mun/City
Sentinel Hospitals, Bataan                                   
23rd Morbidity Week, 2007-2008                         

Table 1.  Notifiable Diseases+ Update
Sentinel Sites Bataan, 23rd MW, 2007-2008