By MAE SINGUAY
BACOLOD City — Dengue hemorrhagic fever claimed six lives in Western Visayas from January 1 to May 17 this year, records from the Department of Health (DOH) Region 6 showed.
This number, however, is lower compared to 19 deaths in the same period last year, according to the DOH’s Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit.
In fact, dengue cases in the entire region during the period this year decreased by 69.36 percent.
With only 1,399 cases recorded, the DOH is bent on sustaining the decrease, advising the public to continue practices that fight the spread of the disease.
In the same period last year, dengue cases in the region reached 4,566.
Capiz had the most number of cases so far this year with 416 with one death.
It was followed by Iloilo province with 278 with four deaths; Aklan, 251; Negros Occidental, 178 with one death; Iloilo City, 153; Bacolod City, 54; Antique, 42; and Guimaras, 13.
Dr. Elvie Villalobos, medical specialist II of DOH, attributed the decrease in the number of dengue cases to the department’s “thorough” and “massive” campaign against the disease.
Villalobos was here yesterday for a press conference on latest updates on dengue at the Palmas del Mar Bacolod in Brgy. Singcang-Airport.
He said the Health department is advising the public to clean their surroundings to prevent the spread of dengue, especially at the onset of the rainy season.
“Observe proper disposal of tin cans, empty bottles, used tires and other containers, so these (items) do not become breeding places of mosquitoes,” he said.
STOP, LOOK, LISTEN
To further decrease dengue cases, Villalobos said everyone should “Stop, Look and Listen” every 4 o’clock in the afternoon.
“At 4 p.m. every day,” he said, the public have “to Stop what they are doing and dedicate a few minutes to mosquito control.”
Then “they need to Look in areas where larvae can breed and destroy any larvae they can find, and Listen to instructions from local authorities,” he said.
Again, the health official urged the public to continue practicing the 4S:
- Search and destroy (possible breeding grounds of dengue-carrying mosquitoes)
- Seek early consultation
- Self-protective measures; and
- Say no to indiscriminate fogging./PN
