Dengue, hand-foot-and-mouth disease cases up in April
Dengue fever and foot-and mouth disease posted increases in the city last April, according to the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU) of the City Health Services Office under Dr. Rowena Galpo.
The CESU said there were 33 reported cases for dengue fever from April 1 to 30 which is a 4-fold increase compared to the same period in 2021. No death was reported for 2022 compared with 1 death last year.
Age range of patients is between 5 months to 58 years old (median=26) and 69.7 percent of the cases were females.
Clustering of cases was reported in barangays Bakakeng Central, San Luis Village and Balsigan.
Hand Foot Mouth Disease also rose 6-fold with six cases reported from April 1 to 30,2022 as compared to 2021. There were no fatalities reported.
Age range of cases was between 2 to 3 years old with equal numbers of males and females.
There was no clustering and fatalities reported. Cases were from Irisan (2), Lourdes Subdivision Proper (2), Camp 7 (1) and Bakakeng Central (1).
Mayor Benjamin Magalong and Galpo advised residents to be on guard against the dengue disease by practicing the 4S strategy: Search and Destroy Mosquito Breeding Places; Self –Protection Measures (use window screens, mosquito nets, wear protective clothing, use insect repellents); Seek Early Consultation; and Say No to Indiscriminate Fogging.
HFMD, on the other hand, is a viral disease most common in young children and spreads to others by close personal contact, coughing or sneezing or by contact with contaminated objects or surfaces. It presents as fever, oral lesions and rash on the hands, feet and buttocks and is preventable by observing handwashing, disinfection, good hygiene and isolation of contagious persons. – Aileen P. Refuerzo
