DOH identifies four barangays in NCR as dengue hotpots

MANILA, Oct. 4 (PNA) – The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday identified four barangays in the National Capital Region (NCR) as dengue hotspots with the alarming increase of cases in the metropolis this year.

Dr. Lyndon Leesuy, dengue program manager of the DOH-National Epidemiology Center(NEC), identified Banangay Baesa and Batasan hills in Quezon City; Barangay Parang in Marikina; and Barangay 177 in Caloocan as hotspots.

In Batasan Hills, some 100 cases were recorded with three deaths.

Leesuy said the DOH is closely monitoring the cluster of dengue in the said areas if the number will continue to rise in the following days.

The DOH-NEC noted a more than 100 percent increase in dengue cases in NCR with 8,386 cases from January 1 to August 23 this year compared to the 3,106 cases on the same period last year.

Leesuy said the cases in the areas are dispersed and compared to past years the same areas posted a low number of dengue cases.

“There is no reason for panic because there is no epidemic. There is no cutoff of number of cases in NCR because some of barangays do not have high cases before. What we need is vigilance in the barangay level when fighting dengue,” he said.

The dengue program manager also refuted claims that there is a new strain of the dengue virus this year.

“No new strain has been found. We still have the same four strain this year,” he explained.

Leesuy also called for cooperation among residents in the identified barangays to regularly conduct cleaning operations in their surroundings.

The DOH earlier alerted local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila on rise of dengue cases this year.

It reminded barangay health departments to be rigid on the promotion of the 4-S against dengue campaign to the barangay level.

Residents were also asked to observe the “Operation Taob” reminder which directs them to turn over empty bottles, cans, vases and other objects which can store water and become breeding places for dengue mosquitoes.