Island in Batanes under state of calamity due to dengue cases

An island in the province of Batanes has been placed under state of calamity due to the number of dengue cases in the area. Sabtang Mayor Maxilindo Babalo declared a state of calamity on Monday after 63 residents of the island were stricken with dengue over the past two weeks, a GMA News TV Live report said Sunday. Babalo said he made the declaration to access funds for fogging operations to rid the area of dengue-carrying mosquitoes, and to purchase additional medicines for dengue patients, the report said.

The mayor also appealed to the provincial and national government to send additional doctors and nurses to the island, since only one doctor was attending to all the 63 patients’ needs as of posting time. The Department of Health (DOH) recorded more than 27,000 cases of dengue during the first half of 2011. Although the figure is slightly lower compared to the same period last year, the DOH continues to remind the public to clean their surroundings to prevent the spread of the disease. - Andreo C. Calonzo/KBK, GMA News