The Department of Health (DOH) said yesterday more people are dying from dengue but this seems to pass unnoticed amid the Influenza A(H1N1) scare.
Dr. Eric Tayag, director of the National Epidemiology Center of the DOH, pointed out in a news briefing at Malacañang that dengue has claimed the lives of 62 people, mostly young children, from January to May 9 while there are no reported fatalities so far from the flu caused by the A(H1N1) virus.
As of yesterday, 20 new cases of the A(H1N1) viral infection had been confirmed by the DOH, raising to 77 the total number of confirmed cases in the country.
Tayag said there is no dengue epidemic yet but there are reports of “clustering” of cases in Caloocan City.
The global case fatality rate for A(H1N1) is 0.55 percent of the 25,288 confirmed cases in 73 reporting countries.
The DOH is closely monitoring 60 barangays in Caoayan, Ilocos Sur; Marilao, Bulacan; Lucena City in Quezon; Taytay, Rizal; Bacolod City and Silay City in Negros Occidental; Cebu City, Danao City, Minglanilla and Lapu-lapu City in Cebu; Tacloban City in Leyte; Valencia City in Bukidnon; in Cagayan de Oro City in Misamis Oriental; Davao City and Davao del Sur; Island City Samal and Davao del Norte and Palomok and Tupi in South Cotabato.
DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III said this year’s cases is 57.9 percent lower compared to the same period in 2008 but this should not lead the public into complacency.
DOH officials in Central Luzon said that dengue fever remains a more serious threat to local folk than A(H1N1).
Dr. Irene Canlas, head of the DOH’s regional epidimiology department, confirmed that since January, five have already died from dengue in the region.
“In terms of mortality, dengue is definitely more dangerous than A(H1N1). We have to be alert because the rainy season has set in,” Canlas said.
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