Dengue cases in Cebu City up by 35-percent since January

CEBU, Philippines – The number of dengue cases in Cebu City is up by more than 35 percent during the first eight months of this year compared to the same period last year but the mortality rate has gone down.

As of August 2, the Cebu City Epidemiology Statistics and Surveillance Unit have only recorded nine deaths since January compared to 13 last year. These came from Barangays Pardo, Bulacao, Calamba, Mabolo, Busay, Punta Princessa and Babag with one fatality each and Tejero with two cases of deaths.  

Another fatality was reported yesterday which could be the tenth victim of dengue, but Assistant City Epidemiologist Durinda Macasucol said they have not verified the information yet.

The statistics show that Guadalupe already has 59 cases, the highest among the 80 barangays in the city.

Next to Guadalupe is Mambaling with 39 cases, Punta Princesa, 34; Labangon 30; Basak San Nicolas, 29; Lahug, 28; Talamban and Tisa with 27 cases each, Apas, 24; and Mabolo, 23.

From January to July this year, the number of cases rose to 820 or 35.51 percent higher than the 606 cases recorded during the same period last year.

Macasucol however said that there is a decrease in the number of deaths from 13 during the same period last year to only nine this year.

She said that the continuous increase in the population may be attributed to the increase in the number of cases.

"Our case finding is also very active. So pwede ta makaingon na nagkadaghan atong cases kay mas active man atong team na mu-verify sa mga dengue cases," she said.

Next week, CESSU is set to hold a massive search and destroy operation in barangay Mambaling which ranked second this year from number eight last year.

Mambaling has only 17 cases in the same period last year but it rose almost 100 percent this year which alarmed officials.

Macasucol said that right now, they are prioritizing barangays included in the top 10 but assured that there is still a consistent monitoring in the rest of the areas.

CESSU is coordinating with the Department of Public Services to help them assist in searching for the breeding grounds of the dengue virus carrier mosquito like the clogged canals.

She said that for the whole month of July, they already met with the different barangay officials and instructed them to activate all their barangay disaster coordinating council.

"Ang awhag lang namo sa tanang households na kung mahimo, kada adlaw bisan 10 minutes lang at 4 p.m. limpyohan ang palibot ug siguruon nga walay stagnant water kung asa mabuhi ang mga lamok," Macasucol said. (THE FREEMAN)