The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) stepped up its campaign against dengue as the number of cases from January 1 to June 26, 2010 escalated to 25,283, a 40-percent increase from the same period in 2009, according to the Department of Health.
The report also showed that the highest number of dengue cases were recorded in Region VIII (2,940), followed by Region IV-A (2,751), Region XII (2,708) and National Capital Region (2,618). A total of 18,055 dengue cases were reported in the same period last year.
“The rise in the number of dengue cases for the first half of 2010 is very alarming. Thus, PRC should double its efforts to prevent dengue,” said PRC Chairman Richard Gordon.
In response, PRC Bukidnon Chapter conducted cleanup drives and information dissemination about dengue in six barangays of Malaybalay City. The Provincial Health Office said that dengue cases in Bukidnon have reached 517, with 15 reported deaths in the municipalities of Valencia City, Quezon, Dona Carlos and Malaybalay City.
In Davao del Sur where a state of calamity was declared on July 8 due to dengue outbreak, the province’s PRC chapter held dengue prevention campaigns in Barangay Bato, Sta. Cruz and Barangay Kapatagan in Digos City where 352 cases and nine deaths were recorded.
PRC Leyte Chapter also conducted initial information dissemination drive on dengue and various mass blood donations to assist patients in their blood needs. Its blood service facilities have served five patients.
PRC also intensified its mass blood donation activities to ensure an adequate blood supply for dengue patients.
As of July 20, PRC Davao del Sur Chapter has served four patients with 6 units of fresh frozen plasma. The chapter also strengthened its blood donor recruitment by conducting six mass blood donations from July 16 to 25.
Davao City Red Cross, on the other hand, currently receives dengue fever patients referred from Davao del Sur to provide their platelet concentrate needs. A total of 1,792 cases and six deaths were noted in Davao City, as of July 9.
Mindanao Regional Blood Center also provided 476 units of platelet concentrates, 75 units of frozen plasma and 9 apheresis derive platelets.
PRC Ilocos Norte Chapter’s blood service facilities, meanwhile, has issued 19 units of platelet concentrate, as of July 19. The chapter also conducted a series of cleanup drives and disseminator’s training. Although not yet under a state of calamity, the municipality of Solsona in Ilocos Norte intensified its information dissemination program on dengue, as advised by its Provincial Health Unit.
“It is necessary that all PRC chapters nationwide strengthen their community-based dengue prevention program to create an increased awareness and to improve cleanliness among communities,” noted Gordon who emphasized the need to mobilize Red Cross 143 volunteers in initiating community drives in searching for and destroying mosquito-breeding sites.
Realizing the increased demand for blood during the dengue season, PRC also urged healthy volunteers to visit the nearest blood center and donate blood.
Dengue is an infection that causes a severe influenza-like illness, and sometimes a deadly complication called dengue haemorrhagic fever. It is transmitted by Aedes Egypti, a day-biting mosquito which lays eggs in clear and stagnant water found in flower vases, cans, rain barrels, old rubber tires and other containers. Signs and symptoms include fever, joint and muscle pain, weakness, skin rashes, dark-colored stools and vomiting of coffee-colored matter.