Sierra Madre tribe leader fears Dengue outbreak

LUCENA CITY – A Sierra Madre tribe leader asked health authorities to look into a possible dengue outbreak among the indigenous people in northern Quezon.

Ramsey Astoveza from the Agta tribe said two sick tribesmen were already sent to the Quezon Medical Center here in Lucena as dengue patients.

“Three other tribesmen from Infanta were also diagnosed by a local doctor in Infanta as also afflicted with dengue,” he said over the phone Friday evening.

He said they have been receiving similar reports of sickness from other tribal communities in the Sierra Madre.

“We called on the health authorities to look into these cases before they become widespread,” Astoveza said.

Doctor Agrifino Tullas, Quezon health officer, said his office has yet to receive reports of a dengue outbreak in Infanta town in northern Quezon.

“I suspected that the report was only a sporadic case. Not an outbreak,” he said in a text message.

He said he would also order the health authorities in Infanta to investigate the report.

Source