THE Department of Health (DOH) said on Wednesday the number of reported dengue cases in Davao Region dropped by almost half compared to the same period of last year.
A total of 1,633 cases in the first semester of 2015 compared to 2,903 cases of the same period in 2014.
Davao City recorded the highest number of recorded cases at 700. Davao Oriental came second highest with 467, followed by Compostela Valley with 228, Davao del Norte with 125, and Davao del Sur with 113.
Of the total cases, at least seven fatalities were recorded, with Davao Oriental being the highest at four, followed by Davao City at two, and one in Davao del Norte, while Compostela Valley and Davao del Sur recorded zero deaths.
Yasmin M. Avila, health education and promotion officer II of DOH-Davao, attributed the major drop to the intensified drive against dengue, in which the agency has involved the barangay leaders to enforce the anti-dengue programs.
She reminded the public of the 4 o'clock habit to further bring the number of dengue cases down, now that it is rainy season.
"The 4 o'clock habit includes 'Stop. Look. Listen," she said, adding that homeowners should clean up their surroundings and destroy the possible breeding sites of mosquitoes.
"If there are no breeding sites, wala kiti-kiti, kung walang kiti-kiti, walang lamok, at kung kung walang lamok, wala rin dengue," she said.
The official added that a simple crown of bottled drinks can store up water, enough to make it a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
The barangay leaders are now active in informing their constituents how to fend off dengue mosquitoes.
Aside from the 4 o'clock habit, some other interventions include Olyset-treated curtains and ovicial-larvicidal (OL) traps, which are distributed for free to households where dengue cases are high.
In Davao City, Talomo North recorded the highest number of reported dengue cases at 128, followed by Buhangin with 127 this year.
In 2012, Davao City Health Office started the implementation of Indoor Residual Spraying, a process of spraying the inside of dwellings using a bio-friendly insecticide to kill mosquitoes.
The program, which was sponsored by World Health Organization, was the most way of thwarting mosquitoes.