NDRRMC: 17 deaths, 200% rise in CLuzon dengue cases in Q1

Dengue cases rose by 200 percent in Central Luzon with 17 deaths recorded in the first quarter of 2011, health and disaster management officials said. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit Region 3 noted 3,688 dengue cases from Jan. 1 to April 16. "Provinces with the most number of dengue cases were Bulacan (1,253); Nueva Ecija (927); and Pampanga (701)," it said in its report posted on its website late Wednesday. At least 17 deaths were recorded, with Bulacan having the highest number reported. The NDRRMC also noted a clustering of cases in several areas in the following provinces:

• Bataan – Townsite and Alangain in Limay
• Bulacan – Sibul, San Miguel and San Vicente, Sta. Maria
• Pampanga – Pulong Cacutod and Lourdes Northwest in Angeles City; San Vicente, Apalit; Dau, Mabalacat; Sapang Maisac, Mexico; Lourdes in Minalin; and Calulut, San Fernando City
• Nueva Ecija – Campo Tinio in Cabanatuan City

The NDRRMC said most of the cases were male (51.8 percent), with ages ranging from less than one month to 91 years old. Some 40 percent of the cases were aged 11 to 20. Regional health officials continue to monitor the cases to avert a possible dengue outbreak. It urged local government leaders and households in provinces with high number of dengue cases to continue their cleanup efforts. — LBG, GMA News