Dengue claims 71; cases soar to over 11,000 in CV

CEBU, Philippines — At least 71 people have died of dengue fever in Central Visayas since the start of 2022 while the number of persons infected with the mosquito-borne disease in the region has breached the 11,000-mark as of August 6, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

Cebu Province has the highest number of dengue cases among the four provinces and three highly urbanized cities in Central Visayas with 4,263 cases, including 26 deaths.

Cebu City followed with 2,074 cases, including 25 deaths; Bohol (1,726 cases, zero deaths); Lapu-Lapu City (1,226 cases with 10 deaths); Negros Oriental (1,135 cases with six deaths); Mandaue City (589 cases and four deaths); and Siquijor (90  cases with zero death).

Since January to August 6, a total of 11,103 dengue cases have been recorded by the DOH in Central Visayas.

Health officials said the rise in dengue cases in the region is due to the typhoon Odette in December last year. The devastation brought about by the typhoon provided breeding grounds for the dengue mosquito.

Some interventions, however, have already been done down to the barangay level to avert the looming outbreak.

In Cebu City, City Health Department head Dr. Jeffrey Ibones said they are starting to see a downtrend in cases following the massive operations against dengue. The number of fatalities, however, is higher this year.

Ibones said a downtrend in dengue cases was observed towards the end of June and saw only around 200 cases for the whole of July.

The city health official said they are hoping to keep the new cases low but warned a spike in new cases may occur due to the unpredictable weather condition these days.

Yesterday, representatives of the different barangays here attended the dengue awareness and management seminar.

The Liga ng mga Barangay-Cebu City headed by its president Franklyn Ong together with the officials of DOH-7 who conducted the said seminar expect those who attended to be able to cascade the learnings they got to their respective communities.

The DOH has also reminded everyone how to prevent dengue by just following the four S--search and destroy breeding places of dengue mosquitos; securing self-protection; seek early consultation and support spraying.

Ibones also reiterates that the city government and the CHD cannot do it all alone, this needs a multi-sectoral effort to prevent the disease.

Dengue, which is a disease common in tropical and subtropical countries, is transmitted through the bite of an Aedes aegypti mosquito and there is no known cure, according to the World Health Organization.--/FPL (FREEMAN)