THE Department of Health – Cordillera Administrative Region (DOH-CAR) has reported that the region had more than 15,000 dengue cases in the year of 2022, far exceeding the statistics of previous year 2021.
DOH statistics show the region logged 15,615 cases with 21 deaths last year compared to the 5,270 cases and 24 deaths in 2021, or a 196 percent increase in cases.
Data also showed that most months in 2022 saw an excess of cases beyond the epidemic threshold.
According to the DOH-CAR, the region is looking to adopt the response systems that were developed during the COVID-19 pandemic and adapt them for use against the continued dengue threat.
The Prevent, Detect, Isolate, Treat, Reintegrate (PDITR) strategy of COVID-19 management is also applicable for dengue, according to the DOH-CAR, in addition to the already existing 4S campaign –Search and destroy, Seek early consultation, Secure self-protection and Support fogging.
Additionally, not only do the COVID-19 prevention systems help the DOH-CAR detect cases better, the case referral system developed during the pandemic would also help in case management.
