Dengue cases soar to 318TCT 4th journalism workshop set Aug. 2-3Pawnshop loses P1.9-M to robbersDengue cases soar to 318This prompted Capiz officials to intensify their campaign against the dreaded viral diseases. Two fatalities were reported — Julius Casugbo, 19, of Barangay Bahit, Panitan who died July 8 and Jenelyn Borres of Barangay Viscaya, President Roxas who died July 10. The trend is alarming if we are to consider the number of dengue cases reported in the province for the whole of last year which was 123, according to provincial health officer I Jerves Punsalan. Children aged 5-9 years old accounted for most of the victims, or 119 cases. The youngest patient reported was a month old. The oldest was 68 years old. Dao town had the most number of cases at 71. Roxas City was second at 67. Other towns with dengue cases are Cuartero, 12 cases; Dumalag, 27; Dumarao, 4; Ivisan, 4; Jamindan, 10; Maayon, 5; Mambusao, 17; Panay, 4; Panitan, 39; Pilar, 4; Pontevedra, 6; President Roxas, 17; Sapian, 7; Sigma, 13 and Tapaz, 10. Dengue is caused by a virus. Thus, unlike diseases caused by bacteria, it does not respond to antibiotic treatment. Punsalan said disease prevention is the most effective way to stop dengue. Residents are advised to clean up the immediate surroundings of their respective households to remove possible breeding places of Dengue-carrying mosquitoes. These mosquitoes prefer clean, clear stagnant waters, like those found in flower vases and other containers that may contain water, for their egg laying. Another strategy being recommended include the use of mosquito nets and screens to prevent contact with these mosquitoes, Punsalan said. According to him, there are four known serotypes of the Dengue virus. A person, he said, who recovers from being infected with type 1 virus can develop immunity to it but will not develop immunity for types 2 to 4. Theoritically, it is thus possible for a person to be infected by Dengue four times, Punsalan said, adding that what has been noted is that severe cases of Dengue usually take place after a repeat infection and not during the initial infection. This pattern of immunity may explain the occurrence of outbreaks of the disease, Punsalan said. For example, he said, a population that has been often exposed and thus largely immune to type 3 Dengue virus may be exposed to a new virus, say type 2, where most will still have not immunity to. Dengue virus comes from Aedes aegypti and Aedes Albopictus mosquitoes, which are known to breed only in clear and stagnant water and bite only in early morning and late afternoon. Capiz had the worst Dengue experience in 1998 with 683 cases. The figure went down to 26 cases in 1999, then it went up slightly to 47 and to 123 in 2001. The cases leaped to 318 as of July 10 this year. TCT 4th journalism workshop set Aug. 2-3The workshop is intended for high school students from different schools in Capiz. It aims to equip young writers with the techniques and skills to gather news, write various articles and put these together in a publication. The participants will be taught on the various aspects of journalism with emphasis on conciseness and clarity. It is also the goal of the workshop to help campus journalists to familiarize themselves with the ethics of journalism. Topics to be discussed include new writing, feature writing, column writing, editorial writing, photo journalism, sports writing, cartooning, editing/copy editing and layouting. Speakers during the workshop are editor Gerry T. Pagharion, also correspondent of the Philippine Daily Inquirer in Capiz, former editor Fe G. Villarruz and veteran writers Benny Cortes, Ramon Atinon, Fr. Rey Villanoy, Edward Basilonia, James Cabag Jr. and Judge Edward Contreras. Bryan Mari J. Argos, also a columnist of this paper and The News Today, will lecture on his chosen topic. The two-day workshop will be held in cooperation with Jollibee and Chowking. Registration per participant is P400 to include snacks and lunch. For more details, call Edalyn or Wow @ 621-0949 or text them at 09198000164 and 09179911098. The journalism workshop is a brainchild of Thursday Ortiz when she used to manage the paper four years ago. Thursday’s brother, Mark Ortiz, is now overseeing the paper’s operation. Pawnshop loses P1.9-M to robbersThe suspects also carted away P11,493 cash. Investigation conducted by the President Roxas PNP showed that it was an inside job. Investigators noted that the padlock was not damaged and that only the pawnshop employees had knowledge of number combination of the vault where the stolen items were placed. One Romeo Demapiles, the security guard detailed in the said pawnshop, had not shown up for an investigation. In Sapian town, one Miguel Esperidion y Tenasas, 52, a businessman at Barangay Poblacion here, reported to the Sapian police that his helper stole his money. Esperidion alleged that Junell Panuncio y Samagora, 19, of Cabangila, Altavas, Aklan stole the P50,000 cash kept in his safety cabinet. Panuncio was apprehended and was detained at the Sapian police station.
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