Dengue cases in Central Visayas up by 131%

CEBU, Philippines - A three-year-old boy from Barangay Nangka, Consolacion town was among the 67 fatalities this year due to dengue, a mosquito-borne viral disease.

 The Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU) reported that dengue cases in Central Visayas posted a dramatic increase, with 14,846 compared to last year's 6,420 cases.

 There were 125 deaths from January 1 to September 24 this year, compared to 36 deaths last year. Of the 125 deaths, 67 were from Cebu province, including the cities of Cebu, Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue.

 This means, there was an increase of 8,426 cases or 131 percent higher.

 According to the report, Cebu City posted the highest number of cases, with 2,024 and 13 deaths, almost double than last year's cases with 1,077 and eight deaths.

 Mandaue City followed with 658 cases and 13 deaths; Toledo with 545 and four deaths; Balamban 459 with two deaths and; Lapu-Lapu City with  439 cases and eight deaths.

 Carcar City recorded a total of 376 cases, Liloan (338 cases and four deaths), Talisay City (317 cases and five deaths), Consolacion (303 cases and three deaths), Danao City (239 cases and three deaths), San Fernando (237 cases and one death), Cordova (220 cases and five deaths), Naga (204 cases and one death), Minglanilla (199 cases and one death), and Medellin (183 cases and four deaths.)

 Most of the dengue victims were 10-years-old and below.

 Dr. Rene Catan, acting Cebu Provincial Health Office head, said the immediate cause of death of Kerb Winden Birao from Consolacion was dengue hemorrhagic fever, based on his death certi-ficate issued by Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center. He died on September 10.

 According to the World Health Organization, DHF is a severe manifestation of dengue fever and ranks highly among new and emerging infectious diseases in public health significance and is considered to be the most important of the arthropod-borne viral diseases.

 A syndrome due to the dengue virus that tends to affect children under 10, causing abdominal pains, hemorrhage (bleeding) and circulatory collapse (shock).

 After Birao's death, Nangka Barangay Captain Rey Constancio Cataluña Jr. wrote to Catan last September 23 requesting the latter to conduct misting in their area.

 "…Purok 7 (in Brgy Nangka)has been experiencing cases of dengue where the 3-year old came from. We already conducted some precautionary measures like information and clean up drives, but we still find it alarming," he said.

 Cataluña said even a private school asked him to take actions before the situation escalates further.

 Catan said PHO has deployed misting teams yesterday to Consolacion and in other areas in the province.

 Aside from it, larvicidal activities will also be done as preventive measures.

 Larvicidal intervention uses chemicals that are placed in areas where dengue-carrying mosquitoes may breed, such as canals and containers. The chemicals can stay effective for up to four months in stagnant waters.

 Despite the preventive measures that the health department has been doing, Catan still encourages the public to continue cleaning their surroundings. (FREEMAN)