Children with dengue crowd QC hospital

The dengue scourge continues to make itself felt especially among children, as many of them have crowded a Quezon City hospital's pediatric ward. At least 66 children now occupy the ward at the Quirino Memorial Medical Center, according to a report by radio dzBB's Allan Gatus. The dzBB report said "two to three" children had to share one bed at the ward. Erwin Lorenzana, one of the nurses on duty at the hospital, said the pediatric ward threatened to "overflow" with dengue cases as of Monday. As of Monday morning, the report said at least 66 dengue cases had been recorded at the hospital, including at least three cases brought there Sunday night.

Last week, the Department of Health (DOH) warned the public not to become complacent against dengue. DOH Secretary Enrique Ona said that while dengue cases are down from January to July 23 this year compared to the same period last year, there is no reason to relax. The DOH’s figures showed that from January to July 23, there were 38,876 dengue cases, 25.85 percent lower compared to the 52,428 cases in the same period last year. It also noted dengue outbreaks in the province of Batanes and Aurora are now contained. Also, it said the death toll, which has so far reached 226, was half of the reported deaths in the same period last year. “As the rainy season continues, we need to continue organizing clean-up campaigns in barangays to destroy every possible dengue breeding site," Ona said. Dengue is a disease caused by the bite of Aedes aegypti mosquito. These mosquitoes bite during daytime. The disease is characterized by headache, fever, muscle and joint pains and skin rashes. In extreme cases, bleeding of the gums and nose may occur. — RSJ, GMA News