CEBU, Philippines - Cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever in Central Visayas from January 1 to February 13 of this year have already reached 448, which is a decline of 43 cases compared to last year’s 491 of the same period.
Dr. Jocelyn Abellana, head of the Communicable Disease Program of the Department of Health-7, said that the cases were recorded in Danao City with 40, Talisay City, 40; Lapu-Lapu City with 28; Toledo City, 24; Naga City, 21; Tagbilaran City, 21; Asturias town, 19; Dumaguete City, 17; Mandaue City with 15, and Cebu City with 223.
Of the places cited, only the cities here in Cebu have recorded dengue deaths which reached to six cases.
Abellana explained that despite the decline in the said period, the figure is still saddening as this is supposed to be an off-season for dengue since most of the cases occur during the wet season. Yet, cases continue to occur because of the condition specifically in urban areas wherein it is mostly warm, populated and crowded, there’s water shortage, lack in sanitation, as well as the presence of stagnant water.
However, health workers remain to be aggressive with their drive against dengue. In Cebu City lately, they distributed insecticides. In barangay Calamba, they conducted a forum emphasizing on the need to destroy mosquito-breeding grounds.
Currently, 500 pieces of mosquito nets were distributed by health workers to some areas here in the city.
Abellana added that prevention is still the key in fighting dengue effectively. In doing so, one needs to seek early treatment whenever signs and symptoms of dengue start to manifest; clean and check water container daily, clean the surroundings and destroy possible niches of mosquitoes, and by using insect repellant lotion.
For now, health workers are conducting a research to come up with a vaccine against dengue wherein the Armed Forces Research for Biology had informed of a dengue vaccine with result on its effectiveness to be tested yet. — Antoniette Parce/MEEV (THE FREEMAN)