ILOILO – From Jan. 1 to Oct. 17, dengue cases in Western Visayas fell dramatically compared to the same period last year, data from the Department of Health’s (DOH) Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit showed.
As of Oct. 7 or Morbidity Week 42, 3,675 dengue cases were recorded, 93 percent lower than last year’s 54,002 cases in the same period
According to Lourdes Monegro, DOH Region 6’s entomologist III and regional dengue program coordinator, deaths due to the mosquito-borne disease during the period also fell – 11 in 2020 from 229 in 2019.
Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection causing a severe flu-like illness that could sometimes be fatal. Its carriers are day-biting mosquitoes (Aedes albpictus and Aedes aegypti) that live and breed and clean, stagnant water.
Negros Occidental has the most number of dengue cases so far with 1,201 followed by Iloilo province (648), Aklan (494), Antique (406), Capiz (346), Iloilo City (231), Bacolod City (219), Guimaras (91); and others or cases from other regions that were detected in Region 6 (39).
While the number of dengue cases in the region significantly dropped this year, the DOH regional office still urged the public to sustain efforts preventing the spread of the mosquito-borne disease.
It also reiterated the importance of the 4S strategy against dengue – search and destroy mosquitoes’ breeding places, self-protection measures, seek early consultation for fever lasting more than two days, and say “no” to indiscriminate fogging.
Dr. Glen Alonsabe, DOH-6 epidemiologist, also stressed the importance of personal hygiene, proper hand-washing and cough etiquette, pointing out the “overlapping” symptoms of dengue and influenza-like illnesses such as fever./PN
