Caraga region of northern Mindanao reports 21 dengue deaths in 2013
The number of dengue fever cases in the northern Mindanao region of Caraga increased by 16 percent in 2013, according to health officials with the Department of Health (DOH)-13.
Female Aedes aegypti mosquito
Image/James Gathany
From January to December this year, the region reported 2,610 dengue cases. This compares to the 2012 number of 2,247 cases.
Three out of 10 cases were reported from Butuan City, which recorded 806 cases. This was followed by Agusan del Sur, 512; Surigao del Sur, 358; Surigao del Norte, 233; Surigao City, 195; Agusan del Norte, 150; Bislig City, 142; Cabadbaran City, 94; Bayugan City, 9; Dinagat Island Province, 17 and Tandag City, 13.
There were 21 dengue-related fatalities in 2013 in the region.
Nationally, the most recent case count of dengue fever in the Philippines was 117,658 dengue cases during the first 36 weeks of 2013.
Dengue fever is an infectious disease carried by mosquitoes and caused by any of four related dengue viruses. Thisdisease used to be called “break-bone fever” because it sometimes causes severe joint and muscle pain that feels like bones are breaking.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates there may be 50–100 million dengue infections worldwide every year. However, new research from the University of Oxford and the Wellcome Trust, using cartographic approaches, estimate there to be 390 million dengue infections per year worldwide.
There are three types of dengue fever in order of less severe to most: the typical uncomplicated dengue fever, dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHS) and dengue shock syndrome (DSS).
There is not a vaccine for dengue fever. There is no treatment for dengue, just treat the symptoms.
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