Vigilance urged vs dengue after dramatic rise in cases

CEBU, Philippines – The Department of Health-7 is calling on the public to boost their defenses against dengue after the agency recorded a 95 percent increase in the number cases this year.

Data released by the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit of DOH-7 showed a total of 10,956 people in Central Visayas were afflicted with dengue from January 1 to November 21. Of this number, 71 died.

Last year, the region had a total of 5,626 dengue cases and 22 deaths.

The number in Cebu City remains on a steady rise with 17.2 percent or 1871 dengue cases and 14 deaths for the first 11 months of the year, far higher than the number in the same period last year, which was 1,088 cases and three fatalities.

Cebu City is followed by Lapu-Lapu City (529, cases, seven deaths), Mandaue City (435 cases and two deaths), Tagbilaran City in Bohol (392 cases, three deaths), and Toledo City (365 cases, six deaths).

Other areas with high incidence of dengue include Balamban (342 cases, one death), Consolacion (329 cases, no death), Liloan (325 cases, two deaths), Guihul-ngan City in Negros Oriental (311 cases, two deaths) and Dumaguete City (305 cases, two deaths).

According to RESU, most of those affected were in the 6-10 years age group.

DOH-7 Director Jaime Bernadas said they are concerned of the rapid increase of the number of dengue cases in the region.

“It is expected to rise this year as it was low the past two years, but we are continuously fighting this through collaborative efforts with the local government units,” he told The Freeman.

Bernadas urged the public be vigilant against dengue by eliminating all possible breeding sites of mosquitoes. The Barangay Dengue Brigades, on the other hand, are directed to exert more effort in raising awareness among constituents.

“We have to continue to be more vigilant against conditions that tend to increase the mosquito population,” he said.

Dengue is spread by the bites primarily of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that thrive in clean and stagnant water abundant during rainy days.

The DOH reminded the public that such mosquitoes could also proliferate even during the dry spell caused by the El Niño season if water containers are not properly covered.

A person suffering from dengue has high fever (40°C); headaches; joint, bone or muscle pains; pain behind the eyes; nausea or vomiting; swollen glands and rashes.

The flu-like symptoms would last for two to seven days after an incubation period of four to 10 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito, according to the World Health Organization.

The WHO advised special attention should be given when the person starts to exhibit warning signs.

A total of 108,263 dengue cases were reported nationwide from January 1 to October 3 this year. This is 31.9 percent higher compared to 82,049 the same time period last year.

Most of these cases were from Region 3 (16.3 percent or 17,677 cases and 17 deaths), Region IV-A (16 percent or 17,353 cases and 56 deaths), National Capital Region (12.1 percent or 13,074 cases and 50 deaths), Region 1 (8.5 percent or 9,193 cases and 20 deaths) and Region X (6.2 percent or 6692 cases and 30 deaths). — Kristine B. Quintas/JMO (FREEMAN)