Dengue incidence drops by 60%, says DOH

Posted by admin on Feb 23, 2012 in Dengue Alerts | 0 comments

THE incidence of dengue has dropped by 60 percent from Jan. 1 to Feb. 4 compared to the same period last year, the health department said yesterday.

National Epidemiology director Eric Tayag said 1,753 new cases were monitored for the period.

He said the National Capital Region still has the highest incidence of dengue, with 118 new cases. Tayag also lauded the newest invention of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) that detects the dengue fever immediately even at the disease’s stage of incubation period.

“Because the government made this, it will be available cheaper than currently available commercialized [testing kits],” Tayag said.

So far, Tayag said, the test kit Biotek-M is in the process of clinical validation, or confirming whether the device complies with the regulatory requirement before distribution in the market.

Currently, the DOST is conducting a pilot test of the kit for accuracy and efficiency in the three public hospitals of Rizal Medical Center, National Children’s Hospital, and Philippine Children’s Medical Center.

Report from InterAksyon.com