Dengue cases up by 36% in Central Visayas

CEBU, Philippines —  The Department of Health reported an increase of 36 percent in the dengue cases in Central Visayas from January to December last year.

A total of 28,160 cases with 142 deaths were reported from the different Disease Reporting Units (DRUs) for the period of January 1 to December 14.

According to the Central Visayas Center for Health Development Regional Epidemiology & Surveillance Unit, there has been an increase compared to the 20,735 cases with 122 deaths in 2018.

The most affected age group is from ages 6-10 years old which is 25 percent of the cases, and most of the patients are male with 52 percent.

In the list of top 10 municipalities and cities in Central Visayas with the most number of cases and deaths reported, Cebu City ranked the highest with 3,290 cases and 20 deaths or 11.8 percent increase compared to the 3,267 cases with 16 deaths in 2018.

It was followed by Lapu-Lapu City with 1,600 cases and 3 deaths; Mandaue City 1,025 cases and 4 deaths; Dumaguete City 879 cases and 2 deaths; City of Naga 792 cases with 1 death; Danao City 709 cases with zero death; Talisay City 642 cases and 4 deaths; Minglanilla 562 cases with 5 deaths; Tagbilaran City 490 cases and 9 deaths; and Toledo City 476 cases and 4 deaths.

Last July 2019, Health Secretary Francisco Duque declared a national dengue alert. The health department issued this protocol to arrest the continuous increase in dengue cases all over the country and prevent an epidemic.

Dengue is seen as the fastest spreading mosquito-borne disease in the country, it is a viral disease with no known vaccine or specific antibiotics.

According to DOH, effective surveillance can also help in reducing cases and deaths if areas with clustering of cases are identified early.

The signs and symptoms of the disease include severe headache, pain behind the eyes, severe joint and muscle pain, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and skin rashes.

DOH-7 has put up insecticide-treated nets in some schools in Cebu for free in the hopes of killing dengue-carrying mosquitoes.

The Insecticide-Treated Nets are safe to use and its concentration level is low and acceptable by the Food and Drugs (FDA). FPL (FREEMAN)