Central Visayas dengue cases drop by almost 90%

CEBU, Philippines —  Central Visayas saw an immense drop in dengue cases from January to mid-July this year as compared to the same period last year.

Data from the Regional Epidemiologist and Surveillance Unit of the Department of Health (DOH)-7 showed 976 cases with seven deaths.

The figures are 89.67 percent or 8,473 lower compared to the same period last year in which 9,449 dengue cases including 39 deaths were recorded.

Jeffery Doyongan, entomologist III at DOH-7 said, said most of the cases were recorded in Cebu City at 113, which is still lower than last year’s 1,288 cases.

Cebu City is followed by Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental with 78 cases; Talisay City, Cebu with 46 cases; and Minglanilla town, Cebu with 45 cases.

Doyongan attributed the decrease to several factors, including the anti-dengue measures of the local government units; and the quarantine restrictions which limit the mobility of the public from going to places prone to dengue-carrying mosquitoes.

“Walay klase so lesser movement sa mga bata. Plus, fewer establishments ang open compared sa una and gamay ra sad gyud manufacture og water-holding containers,” he said.

Doyongan, however, said dengue cases next year are expected to increase based on the region’s dengue incidence trend, which shows a surge in dengue cases every three years.

Doyongan said the DOH continues implementing its “4-S” dengue preventive campaign. It stands for “seek early consultation; say yes to fogging only during outbreaks; self-protection measures; and search and destroy.”

He also urged Cebuanos not to lower their guard on the search-and-destroy strategy, which suggests that people should regularly search for possible breeding sites of mosquitoes and destroy them.

“I-practise each household kanang mag open og canned good nga linoan then busloan ang sa luyo kay para anywhere asa ilabay ninyo di siya pundohan og tubig,” he said. — KQD (FREEMAN)