Quarantine helps reduce dengue in Cebu City

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Health Department has recorded a lesser number of dengue cases as of this month compared to the whole year of 2019.

From a total of 2,945 in 2019, this number has dropped to 1,029 as of September, according to the CHD data.

“Ang atong dengue (cases) karon mius-os gyud,” said Dr. Jeffrey Ibones, CHD officer-in-charge.

However, Ibones did not brush aside possibility of increase of the present number since there are still three months ahead before the year ends.

“Layo pa man sad hinoon ang tuig, pwede pa ni siya mosaka, pero hopefully lang nga dili lang ta kay naa raba tay giatubang karon nga pandemic,” he added.

This month, the CHD has recorded only one case while 405 cases were recorded in September 2019.

For the months of October, November, and December last year, the dengue cases were at 273, 231, and 287, respectively.

Ibones is yet to release the data in terms of mortality.

“Naay mga barangay gyud nga naay daghang kaso pero so far kunhod gyud siya compared last year,” he said.

“Usa gyud ka factor-- summer. Expect man ta sa summer moubos gyud na atoang dengue cases,” said Ibones.

Ibones added that among the factors that contributed for the drop of dengue cases is the quarantine as the mandatory stay at home order is being implemented.

He said people had more time to clean their respective homes, especially the areas where dengue causing mosquitoes would usually live.

Dr. Sergio Zelig Javier of the CHD said dengue-related programs are still being undertaken even if the city is under a certain quarantine status.

“Ang CHD naay kaugalingong dengue team. Kaning dengue team, nagalihok gihapon ni sa kapanahonan sa pandemya to survey gihapon sa palibot unya to implement kaning atong 4S,” said Javier.

The 4S stand for search and destroy, self-protection measures, seek early consultation, and support fogging or spraying. — GMR (FREEMAN)