DAGUPAN CITY, July 22 (PIA) – The Provincial Health Office (PHO) of Pangasinan reported a 107 percent increase in the number of acute gastroenteritis cases in the province as of July 18.
 
Based on the acute gastroenteritis surveillance updates of PHO, Pangasinan recorded 3,461 cases from January 1 to July 18 this year compared to 1,674 cases in the same period last year.
 
Aside from the increase in the number of cases, PHO’s data showed that death cases due to the said disease also increased by 90 percent with 19 deaths recorded from January 1 to July 18 this year compared to 10 deaths recorded in the same period last year.
 
Of the 19 fatalities, four deaths were reported in Dagupan City; two each in Mangaldan, Basista, Pozorrubio and San Fabian; and one death case each in Anda, Bugallon, Binmaley, Calasiao, Sison, San Quintin and Umingan.
 
PHO’s data showed that children aged one to four years old are the most common victims of the illness.
 
Top 10 municipalities and cities included in PHO’s watchlist are Umingan with 226 cases, Lingayen (191), Mangaldan (181), Malasiqui (163), Bolinao (158), San Carlos City (146), Binmaley (132), Pozorrubio (124), Alaminos City (121) and Dasol (120).
 
Meanwhile, the PHO is also on the lookout for other illnesses such as dengue, rabies, and leptospirosis.
 
Based on their surveillance on dengue in the given period this year, 736 cases have been recorded, which is 72 percent lower than last year’s 2,652 cases, with only one fatality each from Sta. Maria town and Dagupan City.
 
On the rabies surveillance, five death cases have been recorded this year, which is 40 percent lower than last year’s seven death cases.
 
The fatalities are from the towns of Aguilar, San Fabian, Sta. Barbara, Rosales, and Alaminos City.
 
Leptospirosis cases also recorded a 31 percent decrease, with only nine cases and no fatality recorded this year in contrast to 2021’s data with 13 cases and one death. (JCR/AMB/EMSA/PIA Pangasinan)