For Jan-Feb period: Basak-San Nicolas has most number of dengue cases

CEBU, Philippines - Among barangays in Cebu City, Basak-San Nicolas had the most number of dengue cases during the first two months of this year, while the number of dengue-related casualties in the city had already reached five.

City health officer Stella Ygoña said a five-year-old female child died of dengue in barangay Pasil last March 1.

Ygoña said the 354 cases of dengue in Cebu City from January to February had slightly increased to one percent.

Basak-San Nicolas had 28, followed by Mambaling, 20; Labangon, 19; Kamputhaw and Lahug, 17; Talamban, 16; Tisa, 15; Duljo-Fatima, and Guadalupe, 14.

In the previous months, Guadalupe has always topped the list, but health officials said there is no reason to be alarmed because Guadalupe is the largest barangay in the city with a population of 70,000.

Ygoña said the figures of dengue-related casualties in the previous years had tremendously decreased because of an intensified campaign urging residents to quickly bring to hospitals persons detected to be suffering from severe fever.

In 2007, 53 persons died of dengue, but the number went down to 51 the following year, 41 in 2009, and 22 last year.

Ygoña said the information campaign urging the public to clean up their respective surroundings is being intensified.