BACOLOD City – Mayor Evelio Leonardia has ordered the City Health Office (CHO) to intensify its barangay anti-dengue campaign following the rise in the number of dengue cases over the past months in this city.
CHO recorded 207 dengue cases with four deaths as of June 11. This was 137.3 percent higher compared to the figure in the same period last year, with only 87 cases and two fatalities, data of the City Epidemiological Surveillance Unit (BCESU) showed.
“Much like coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), dengue is no laughing matter. We cannot afford another pandemic,” Leonardia said.
The mayor urged barangay leaders and health workers to coordinate with the CHO as they continuously conduct their anti-dengue program to curb the spread of the illness.
He also advised city residents to maintain cleanliness in their surroundings especially now with the occasional rains that signal the start of the rainy season.
Meanwhile, CHO Environment Sanitation Division chief Dr. Grace Tan identified 15 barangays in the city which registered a clustering of dengue cases. There is clustering if there are at least three cases within four consecutive weeks.
These barangays are the following: Alijis, Barangay 32, Barangay 40, Bata, Cabug, Estefania, Felisa, Granada, Handumanan, Mandalagan, Mansilingan, Sum-ag, Taculing, Tangub, and Villamonte.
Barangay Estefania recorded the highest number of dengue cases with 21, followed by Tangub with 20; Singcang, 18; Mandalagan, 16; Mansilingan and Sum-ag, 14 each; Villamonte, 13; Granada, 12; Alijis, 11; and Taculing, nine.
In order to fight dengue, which is transmitted through a bite of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, Tan also encouraged barangays to practice the “4S:”
● “Search and destroy” mosquito breeding sites;
● “Secure self-protection measures” like wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts, and daily use of mosquito repellent;
● “Seek early consultation;” and
● “Support fogging/spraying.”/PN
