5,046 dengue cases in Davao City

THE Department of Health (DOH) in Davao Region has intensified its anti-dengue by distributing Olyset-treated curtains and ovicidal-larvicidal (OL Traps) in 30 villages in Davao City.

In an interview on Tuesday, Engr. Antonietta Ebol, regional Malaria and Dengue Program manager of DOH, said these 30 barangays belong to the top six dengue hotspots in the city by geographical district.

Around P5 million was allocated for the implementation of this project in Davao City, which recorded the biggest chunk of the total number of cases in the region.

Data from DOH’s Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (Resu) showed that the region posted a total of 6,816 suspected dengue cases from January to September 8 this year, which reflects an increase of 145 percent from last year's 2,781 cases.

Of 6,816 suspected dengue cases, 5,046 were recorded in Davao City. Davao del Norte comes next with 660 suspected cases, Davao Oriental with 459 suspected cases, Compostela Valley (Comval) with 422 suspected cases, and Davao del Sur with 229 suspected cases.

This alarming number prompted the DOH to intensify its efforts especially in dengue hotspots like Talomo North, Talomo South, Buhangin, Bunawan, and Poblacion areas.

The reduction of dengue cases in the city will pull down the statistics for the whole region, Ebol said.

She said a total of 3,300 households will benefit from this project translating to 110 households in each of 30 the barangays.

Some volunteers from the City Health Office (CHO) underwent training on monitoring on August 25-26. She said six teams from DOH, specializing in dengue vector surveillance, will also be deployed to counter-check the project implementation.

She said the effectiveness of the Olyset-treated curtains can last up to five years, provided it is not exposed too much under the sun and washing it once in every three months.

The OL-traps, meanwhile, is a container with pyriproxyfen that regulates the growth of the mosquito larva.

"For OL-Traps, we recommend households to change it once a month," she said.

The official said if the outcome of this project will turn out positive after six months, DOH will roll out the project in other barangays within and outside the city.

The turnover of Olyset-treated curtains and OL-traps is set today, Wednesday, at the Regency Inn.