THERE are no cases of Japanese encephalitis in the city of Manila or in any of the city’s public hospitals, the city government clarified.
Dr. Regina Bagsic, overall coordinator of the six city-run hospitals, belied reports circulating in the social media that a patient has died of the deadly mosquito-borne disease recently.
The patient was a 9-year-old child from Barangay Kasilawan in Makati City, who was admitted at the Santa Ana Hospital on September 13 and who died on September 16 due to “dengue shock syndrome”, Bagsic said in a statement earlier posted at the community page of Manila Mayor Joseph E. Estrada run by City Hall officials and supporters.
“We wish to clarify reports in the social media that a patient has died of Japanese encephalitis at the Santa Ana Hospital. The patient actually died of dengue,” the hospital official said, citing official medical records.
To date, Bagsic said the city of Manila is safe from Japanese encephalitis infection.
Earlier, Estrada has cautioned the public against deadly Japanese encephalitis cases gripping several provinces in Central Luzon.
Estrada alerted the Manila Health Department (MHD) to start conducting an information drive in the communities to educate Manilenos about the disease and how it could be avoided.
“Knowledge is the best defense. People should be taught what to do and what to know to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases, such as this Japanese encephalitis,” the Manila mayor said.
Estrada called on the city residents to keep their environment clean as a way to eliminate potential breeding grounds of mosquitoes that carry deadly viruses, including Japanese encephalitis, dengue, chikungunya, Zika fever and yellow fever.
The Department of Health’s (DOH) Epidemiology Bureau has recorded 133 laboratory-confirmed Japanese encephalitis cases all over the country from January to August 26.
Nine deaths have been recorded so far, with seven from Central Luzon, and one each in Ilocos and Calabarzon.
Citing reports from the DOH, Manila Health Department (MHD) chief Dr. Benjamin Yson said Metro Manila remains safe from Japanese encephalitis as of now.
“The DOH is currently concentrating on Central Luzon provinces, where there have been confirmed cases. Here in Manila, we continue to conduct information campaign through our 59 community health centers and six public hospitals,” he said.
Yson said they are trying to make people aware of the differences of Japanese encephalitis to dengue and other vector-borne diseases.
“If a patient has a fever that lasted for more than three days, we encourage them to seek medical help immediately. We then refer them to our city hospitals if their condition requires it,” he added. From Monday to Friday, MHD also carries out spraying or misting operations in the barangays while, at the same time, exhorting the village chiefs to do their part by helping them conduct persistent information and awareness drive about these mosquito-borne diseases, Yson said.
As an advice, Yson said people should wear long-sleeved tops, pants, or socks to avoid mosquito bites. They may also use mosquito nets and apply insect repellants approved by the Food and Drugs Administration.
In a statement, the DOH said Japanese encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain that causes fever, chills, headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, confusion, and in severe cases, neck stiffness, seizures, paralysis, and coma which may lead to death.