CEBU, Philippines - From January to October 13 this year, dengue-related casualties in Cebu City have reached 12 while the total number of dengue cases also climbed up to 3,059.
Durinda Macasocol, assistant head of the City Health Epidemiology Statistics and Surveillance Unit, said the figure is 104 percent higher compared to the dengue cases for the same period last year with only 1,497 and 12 deaths.
Statistics showed that in every 1,000 population in the city, there are three to four people afflicted with dengue, a virus usually transmitted by mosquitoes called Aedes aegepti.
The latest dengue-related casualties came from Barangays Kasambagan and T. Padilla. Barangays Pahina Central, Sambag 1, Carreta, Tejero, Camputhaw, Apas, Capitol Site, Bulacao, Basak-San Nicolas and Calamba also had one dengue-related casualty.
Records show that the bigger barangays in Cebu City continue to be on top of the list with more number of dengue cases.
These are Guadalupe, 259 cases; Lahug, 165; Labangon, 121; Tisa, 108; Basak-San Nicolas, 98; Mabolo, 92 and Sambag 1, 84.
Macasocol said there are five of the 80 barangays in the city that do not have cases of dengue. They are Barangays Buot, Malubog, Paril, Sirao and Sudlon II, which are all mountain barangays.
Macasocol said the ages of those persons afflicted with dengue ranges from six months to 70 years old.
The health official said statistics showed that the dengue cases in the city went down in the previous months. They are reminding the public that they should be vigilant in spotting stagnant water in their areas and cleaning them so that it will not be used as breeding sites of mosquitoes. – (FREEMAN)