.jpg)
ATTY. MEL STA. MARIA: The advantage, questions, standard of a Corona testimony
Jessica Sanchez's rival in 'Idol' crown has severe kidney problems, needs immediate surgery - TMZ
Sensational Samal: More people flock to town of Jessica's mom after Sanchez makes it to Idol finale
NATO activates missile shield, reaches out to Russia
InterAksyon.com
The online news portal of TV5
MANILA, Philippines -- The incidence of dengue has dropped by 60 percent in the period of Jan. 1 to Feb. 4 compared to the same period last year, the Department of Health said Wednesday.
DOH National Epidemiology director Eric Tayag said 1,753 new cases were monitored for the period.
He said the National Capital Region still has the highest incidence of dengue, with 118 new cases. Tayag also lauded the newest invention of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) that detects the dengue fever immediately even at the disease's stage of incubation period.
“Since gawa na ito ng gobyerno (Because the government made this), it will be available cheaper than currently available commercialized [testing kits],” Tayag said.
New dengue test kit
So far, Tayag said, the test kit Biotek-M is in the process of clinical validation, or confirming whether the device complies with the regulatory requirement before distribution in the market.
Currently, the DOST is conducting a pilot test of the kit for accuracy and efficiency in the three public hospitals of Rizal Medical Center, National Children’s Hospital, and Philippine Children’s Medical Center.
Dr. Raul Destura, the principal person who developed the device, said Biotek-M poses a promising result.
Tayag said Biotek-M could the doctors confirm dengue even in the early incubation period of the disease. Biotek-M uses Isothermal Polymerase Chain Reaction technology, a variation of the usual PCR, in which the nucleic acid is extracted from the blood and added to a mixture.
Compared to the PCR test where result would be available only after several days, Biotek-M could determine the existence of the virus only after one hour. The mixture with the nucleic acid would change its color after one hour.
Less cost
Tayag said patients would spend less with this device, which costs P3,000 to P5,000 per set.
The current PCR test kit costs P7,000 to P8,000 test, and cannot be administered at the onset or within five days of fever. Destura also said the cost for the hospital stay would also go down with the use of the new kit.
"Institutional units or hospitals would not have to admit every patient suspected of dengue... Through this new method, patients and their loveed ones may now be eased of emotional worries and financial woes because of the quick dengue detection," Destura said.
Dengue fever is a year-round threat where the virus-carrying aedes mosquito infects people by sucking their blood.
Once infected by the dengue virus, a person may experience continuous high fever for two to seven days, nausea or vomiting, abdominal pain, weakness, bleeding from the nose and gums, and persistent red spots on the face, extremities, and trunk.
