There have been no cases of Japanese encephalitis or JE in Manila or in any of the city’s public hospitals, the city government clarified Sunday.
Dr. Regina Bagsic, overall coordinator of the six city-run hospitals, belied reports circulating in the social media that a patient recently died of the deadly mosquito-borne disease.
The patient was a 9-year-old from Barangay Kasilawan in Makati City, who was admitted at the Sta. Ana Hospital on September 13 and who unfortunately died on September 16 due to “dengue shock syndrome,” Bagsic said in statement earlier posted on the Facebook community page of Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, which is run by City Hall officials and supporters.
“We wish to clarify reports in social media that a patient has died of Japanese encephalitis at Sta. 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.
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.
Earlier, Estrada cautioned the public against the deadly JE disease gripping several provinces in Central Luzon.
The mayor has alerted the Manila Health Department 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,” Estrada said.
He called on residents to keep their environment clean to eliminate potential breeding grounds of mosquitoes that carry deadly viruses not only Japanese encephalitis but also dengue, chikungunya, Zika fever, and yellow fever.
The Department of Health’s Epidemiology Bureau has recorded 133 laboratory-confirmed Japanese encephalitis cases all over the country from January to Aug. 26. Nine deaths have been recorded so far, with seven from Central Luzon, one each in Ilocos and Calabarzon.
Citing reports from the DoH, Manila Health Department chief Dr. Benjamin Yson said Metro Manila remains safe from Japanese encephalitis as of now.
“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 pointed out the MHD is 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 last 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 and has exhorted the village chiefs to do their part by helping them conduct persistent information and awareness drive about these mosquito-borne diseases, Yson said.
Yson advised Manilenos to 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.
