Guimaras under state of calamity due to dengue

Guimaras province in Western Visayas is now under a state of calamity due to the high incidence of dengue cases there. Radio dzBB's Iloilo affiliate reported Wednesday that the provincial board approved a resolution to the effect during its session Tuesday afternoon. Provincial Governor Felipe Nava said that with the province under a state of calamity, they expect to use the 5-percent calamity fund mainly for medicines. At least 275 remain confined in hospitals in the province due to dengue. Of these, 41 were in critical condition and transferred to better-equipped hospitals in Iloilo. Iloilo itself had been placed under a state of calamity due to the dengue scourge. 'Serious concern' Just last Tuesday, Health Secretary Enrique Ona said dengue is now a "serious concern" after the number of cases rose by 75 percent from January to August this year, compared to the same period last year. (See: DOH: Dengue cases rise by 75%; now a ‘serious concern’) A total of 54,659 dengue cases were reported nationwide from January 1 to Aug. 14, 2010, much higher than the recorded 31,248 cases in the same period in 2009. There were 429 deaths recorded in the last seven months and almost 80 percent of the cases recorded belonged to the 1-20 year old age bracket. Health officials have been calling on the public to keep their surroundings clean and dry to prevent dengue-carrying mosquitoes from breeding. — RSJ, GMANews.TV