Rising number of dengue cases in Mandaue City

CEBU, Philippines - Alarms mayor Mandaue City Mayor Gabriel Luis Quisumbing has sounded the alarm on the increasing number of cases of dengue disease in the city.

Quisumbing, in an interview with reporters, yesterday said he issued a health advisory ordering the 27 barangays in the city to clean up their environment to prevent further rise in the cases of the viral disease.

The mayor asked his constituents to be more aware of the mosquito-borne deadly disease, which is fast spreading in the city, particularly in barangays Casili, Cubacub and Labogon.

In the latest report he received from the city health department, Quisumbing said there are 170 dengue cases recorded so far since January, but this has actually reached to 550.

"As your mayor of Mandaue City, I am extremely concerned on the number of cases of dengue, and I found out that there is discrepancy in the number of cases reported and what seems to be the actual number of dengue cases in the city," he said.

The mayor said he felt disturbed after getting several text messages from his constituents two days ago asking for financial assistance for hospitalization due to dengue.

He said he has directed the city health department to investigate the alarming report, and it was soon found out that there were dengue cases that have not been reported to the city government.

Amid this, Quisumbing said there is no need to declare an outbreak of the disease, though.

"We are not of that level (outbreak) yet, but alarming," he added.

The mayor, in his advisory, instructed barangay officials to intensify anti-dengue campaigns in their respective areas.

Dengue fever is a disease caused by a family of viruses that are transmitted by mosquitoes. It is an acute illness that manifests as a sudden onset of severe headache, fever, exhaustion, severe joint and muscle pain, swollen glands and rashes. (FREEMAN)