CEBU, Philippines - The number of dengue cases in Mandaue City decreased this year, according to the city health department.
The number of dengue cases recorded beginning January 1 until September 30 this year was only 65. This was much lower compared to the number of cases recorded in the same period of last year, which reached 158.
Dr. Dominga Obenza, assistant city health officer, said the decline in dengue cases was attributable to the campaign of the Department of Health against the disease.
"We have to improve our sanitation practices sa atoang area," Obenza said.
The assistant city health officer said they always remind residents during their campaign to always keep their areas clean and to avoid stagnant water that could become breeding ground for mosquitoes.
The city health department also advocates the "seek and destroy" campaign which means that residents must look for areas where mosquitoes breed and destroy these breeding places.
Obenza advised residents having fever to consult medical practitioners to determine if they are already affected by dengue. Obenza added that the city health office provides free CBC and platelet determination to those who turn up for consultation.
Aside from the usual campaign, the city health department also conducts misting in areas identified to have possible higher chances of being affected by dengue, including Barangay Canduman, where nine dengue cases were recorded, the highest among the 27 barangays in Mandaue.
Last year, 13 cases were recorded in Barangay Canduman.
Obenza said Canduman is located near "forest areas" which makes it more susceptible to dengue. She said the dew drops on leaves of the trees possibly became the breeding ground of mosquitoes.
Barangays Banilad and Pagsabungan followed with seven cases recorded in each area. Last year, 33 cases were recorded in Banilad while 29 in Pagsabungan.
No cases of dengue were recorded in barangays Alang-alang, Casilo, Looc, Mantuyong, and Tingub this year. (FREEMAN)