In Cebu City: More dengue cases

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City has logged close to a hundred additional cases of dengue in just a week and more are expected to be recorded in the coming days if interventions prove unsuccessful.

Dr. Ilya Tac-an, epidemiologist at the Cebu City Health Department, told The FREEMAN that the situation could not be considered an outbreak yet, although it is a cause of concern already.

Earlier, the Department of Health-7 declared the dengue situation in the entire region as a cause of concern.

“Ni-increase gyud ang cases nato, but expected gyud na nato. But usually, second half of the year expected na gyud ng mosaka ang cases nato. Dili pa ni nato matawag na outbreak considering sa number of cases the previous years, except sa last year nga menus gyud... But, monitoron gyud ni nato,” said Tac-an.

From a total of 946 cases for the period of January to June 3 of this year, the city’s cases have now reached 1,033 as of June 10.

An additional 87 new cases were noted from June 4 to 10 alone.

Surge expected?

Tac-an said that based on their data, surges in dengue usually happen every three years and 2022 is the third year since the last surge.

“Ang nakalahi lang sa atoa karon, every second half gyud ng pagsaka sa cases, but lahi ning sa karon tungod naagian ta sa bagyo maong ni-carry over na lang pud,” said Tac-an.

There are four serotypes of the dengue virus, and recovery from the infection is believed to provide lifelong immunity against that serotype.

“Kung matakdan na ka sa usa ka type, dili na ka matakdan og balik ana. Sa ato pa kung pananglitan anang tuiga daghan na ta ana na cases, natakdan na, the following year ana, kung same ra gihapon ang type sa dengue, dili na ka matakdan. Ang kadaghanan kay daghan namang natakdan sa previous years,” explained Tac-an.

However, with new strains and more susceptible ones expected to show up in the next few years, cases are expected to go up again.

“Kung same lang unta ang sub-type nato, menus ra gyud ang case. But naa man gyuy tendency nga naay ma-introduce nga sub-type, maong ing-ani ni,” said Tac-an.

Although the scenario is expected, the Cebu City Health Department is, nevertheless, closely monitoring and strengthening its measures against dengue.

 “Start na gyud ta’s atong intervention, sa barangay-based na gyud na intervention,” said Tac-an.

Yesterday, CHD met with representatives from the Department of Health and other concerned agencies and department to tackle more interventions to be done against the disease.

“Meeting mi with DOH, CCMC, Task Force Dengue, EOC and other stakeholders para istoryahan gyud kung unsa pay atong mahimo together with other concerned parties,” said CHD officer-in-charge Dr. Jeffrey Ibones.

Ibones said they are also exerting more efforts in the barangays with the barangay health workers expected to work hard on fighting the proliferation.

However, Ibones expected each household to also do their part by simply keeping their surroundings clean.

“Manglimpyo sa atuang tugkaran. Secondary ra ng misting,” said Ibones.

Ibones is also asking parents to apply mosquito repellants on their children before playing outdoors and have them wear long sleeves, but if possible, they should just be kept inside their houses.

Ibones is also calling the attention of operators of vulcanizing shops to be responsible enough in checking the tires in their shops.

“Sa akong nakita, ang mga tires naa sa gawas, unya inig uwan, masudlan ug tubig mao nay puy-an sa dengue unya… Maong hangyo lang unta pud ko, na be responsible lang pud,” said Ibones.

For those having a fever for a day or two already, Ibones advised it is best to get a medical check-up already for proper intervention before the case gets worse.

So far, there are now 17dengue deaths noted in Cebu City, mostly involving children below 10 years old.

Cebu City residents are also told not be afraid of going to hospitals for check-ups for early detection.

The city government has committed itself to help in their expenses in dengue cases, not only at the Cebu City Medical Center but even in other hospitals. - with Decemay P. Padilla, JMD (FREEMAN)