IN 2011 E. Visayas posts biggest decrease in dengue cases

TACLOBAN CITY , Philippines  — The Eastern Visayas region has posted the biggest decline in dengue cases in the country in 2011.

The Department of Health-8 said dengue cases in this region dropped by as much as 93 percent compared to the 2010 records, according to a PIA-8 report.

Boyd Cerro of the DOH-8 said the region had 855 dengue cases with eight fatalities in 2011, a marked decrease from the 12,596 cases with 95 deaths in 2010.

Cerro cited the sustained intensified campaign and the cooperation of all sectors in the community for the decrease in the number of dengue fever cases in Eastern Visayas.

“The decline of dengue fever cases in the region could be attributed to our sustained campaign, with the support from other sectors, local government units and communities,” he said.

Cerro cited the DOST-developed special devise, called the mosquito trap, which was piloted in this city and placed in several schools and barangays in the region. This contributed to a large extent the decrease in cases of the dreaded disease, he said.

DOH-8 director Edgardo Gonzaga said he was glad the public is now aware on how to best combat the spread of dengue fever in their community.

He added that, although dengue could not be totally eliminated as it is endemic in the region, the best that could be done is to reduce the number of cases substantially.