Cases up by 234 percent: Dengue claims 33 in Central Visayas

CEBU, Philippines — The incidence of dengue in Central Visayas has increased dramatically during the past three months of this year, with 5,339 cases and 33 deaths as of March 16.

Department of Health officials in the region said the figure is 234 percent higher compared to the 1,598 cases with 11 deaths in the same period last year. Cebu has the most cases with 3,471 with 25 fatalities. Bohol has 923 with six deaths; Negros Oriental has 888 cases with two deaths; and Siquijor , 55, with zero casualty.

Senior health program officer Ma. Michelle Acosta is asking all local government units to reactivate their respective Anti-Dengue Ordinances.

"Para mapaspasan nato [referring to the response] kay grabe gyud ang pagsaka sa atong Dengue (to hasten the response because of the rapid increase of dengue cases)," she added.

During the dry season where people are expected to store water, Acosta reminded the public to make sure that their containers are covered properly. She said stagnant water should be dispose of to prevent mosquitoes from breeding.

Acosta also asked homeowners to be cooperative when rural health unit personnel visit them to conduct misting. She said that it has been a problem that RHU personnel are denied entry by the homeowners when conducting misting operations. She said that mosquito problem is not only limited outside of the houses. — Micole Gerard J. Tizon, USC Intern FPL (FREEMAN)