SAN FERNANDO—The Department of Health reported that the dengue situation in Central Luzon has improved, as the number of cases dropped by 35 percent to 11,469 cases as of September from 17,727 cases in the same period last year.
Marcel Mendoza, surveillance officer of the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit in Central Luzon, said that except for Bataan and Pampanga all dengue cases in the provinces of Aurora, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, and Zambales were reduced considerably.
Mendoza said the biggest improvement was recorded in Bulacan with just 2,169 cases this year compared to 5,455 cases last year, and Tarlac with 1,546 cases in 2016 in contrast to 4,294 last year.
On the other hand, Bataan reported a year-on-year increase in dengue cases to about 1,676 from 776. Pampanga also recorded a slight increase to 3,563 from 3,407 last year.
However, the fatalities in region grew to 30 this year from only 21 last year. Pampanga saw 10 deaths, Bataan nine, and Zambales and Tarlac zero.
Mendoza said the ages of the dengue victims ranged from less than a year to 96. He added that 54 percent of them were males.
The improved dengue condition in Central Luzon was attributed to the department’s cleanliness drive in with the support of the local governments.