Dengue Outbreak In QC: Cases Triple, Children Most Affected

Quezon City declared a dengue outbreak on Saturday following a sharp increase in cases. To date, the city has reported 10 deaths and 1,769 cases of the mosquito-borne disease from January to February, marking a threefold increase from the 609 cases reported in the same period last year.

“Our declaration of a dengue outbreak ensures that we are on top of the situation, and we are doing everything we can to protect our residents from this deadly disease, especially our children,” Mayor Joy Belmonte stated in a press conference. “Sampu na ang namatay at walo sa kanila ay mga menor de edad… Karamihan sa kanila ay namatay sa nakalipas na 14 na araw.”

“Hindi po natin layunin na takutin ang publiko at magpanic ang lahat,” Mayor Belmonte added. “Sa halip, ang gusto natin ay maging mas alero ang publiko.” 

Children, particularly school-aged kids between 5 and 17 years old, account for approximately 58% of the reported cases.

Dengue Cases in Quezon City Barangays

As of February 14, Barangay Batasan Hills has reported the highest number of dengue cases, with 133 cases, followed by Barangay Payatas (102 cases), and Barangay Commonwealth (92 cases). According to city government data, dengue cases are mostly concentrated in about 76 villages out of the city’s 142 barangays.

“Ito yung malalaki nating barangay sa district 2… Maraming tao dito kaya maraming naapektuhan,” said Dr. Rolando Cruz, Quezon City’s chief epidemiologist. “Pag mas bata mas mataas ang tiyansa kasi hindi nila napapatay agad yung lamok… at yung immune response nila mas mababa.”

“Kapag napapansin na nilalagnat na yung bata, agad na dalhin sa health center. It is best to be cautious and bring that child to the health center,” Mayor Belmonte emphasized. “If the need is still there, these health centers will continue to remain open.”

“Children are more vulnerable to dengue because they do not have antibodies yet,” infectious disease expert Dr. Rontgene Solante explained in an interview. “They were not exposed before to this kind of disease.”

In response to the outbreak, all 66 Quezon City health centers will remain open even on weekends to accommodate all possible dengue patients. A dedicated “fever express lane” has also been established in health centers and hospitals to provide immediate care for patients with fever–one of the most common dengue symptoms. Additionally, free dengue kits are available in all city health centers and hospitals.

Dengue and its Symptoms

Dengue is a viral infection primarily spread by mosquitoes. It can cause flu-like symptoms and lead to severe complications if not diagnosed and treated promptly.

In some cases, dengue presents no symptoms in its early stages, making it difficult to detect. Other times, it can be misdiagnosed as the flu or other respiratory illnesses. Typically, dengue symptoms appear between the 4th and 7th days after infection and last for 3 to 10 days. 

One of the most common symptoms is a high grade fever that recurs every 4 to 6 hours. It might be considered dengue-related if there are no other infections such as UTI, coughs, or colds–doctors typically recommend for tests to be done if a child is experiencing recurring fever for 3 or more days. Dengue-induced fever can last up to seven days.

Experts strongly advise seeking medical attention immediately if dengue is suspected, especially for children.

Severe Dengue Symptoms to Watch For:

• Severe headache
• Pain around the eyes/eye sockets
• Rashes
• Bleeding of the gums and nose
• Severe abdominal pain
• Persistent vomiting

Read here to learn the warning signs of dengue in children.