Dengue Alert

THE Department of Health in Central Visayas (DOH-7) may test anti-dengue vaccines in barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City.

Dr. Tom Fernandez, former Cebu City health officer, said that the plan “was still in the proposal stage” and would be discussed with local government officials and concerned agencies.

The “poly valant vaccine” is designed to protect subjects against three dengue strains.

Before the testing, Fernandez said they would need approval from the Institutional Review Board and local health offices.

Fernandez said they decided to choose Cebu City because “studies about dengue were already done in the city and we could reduce possible expenses.”

He said that they needed extreme caution as the exposure to untested vaccines can be a health risk.

“It should be beneficial to the subject or else it would be considered unethical,” Fernandez said.

He said they were negotiating the participation of Chong Hua Hospital and Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center ( VSMMC) so that subjects who react negatively to the vaccine will be immediately admitted.

The Regional Epidemiological and Surveillance Unit recorded 87 dengue cases with one death for January 2011.

The number is 87 percent lower than last year’s 673 cases and nine deaths.

Patients were between seven months and 55 years old.

Most cases were from Lapu-Lapu City (15), Cebu City (9) with one death and Mandaue City (9)./REPORTER CANDEZE R. MONGAYA