Friday, August 31, 2007 Dengue cases rising fast in city By Linette C. Ramos Sun.Star Staff Reporter
IN less than a month, the number of dengue cases in Cebu City almost doubled, with three deaths recorded between Aug. 1 and 14.
The Cebu City Health Department recorded 332 cases from January to July 26 this year, including four deaths. But the number nearly doubled in the succeeding weeks.
Between July 26 and Aug. 14, 293 more cases were reported to the Cebu City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU) of the City Health Department, bringing the total number of dengue cases to 625.
A total of 10 deaths have been reported from Jan. 1 to Aug. 14.
“Based on the trend for dengue cases in the last five years, we expected the number to increase because of the rainy season and we expect the number to continue to increase and reach the peak towards the end of November,” Durinda Macasocol of CESU told Sun.Star Cebu.
The number of dengue cases and deaths reported as of Aug. 14 exceeded the number recorded in the same period last year.
From Jan. 1 to Aug. 14, 2006, the CESU listed 429 cases and nine deaths.
The CESU also identified eight hotspot areas in the city, including certain sitios in Barangays Babag 2, Alumnos in Mambaling, Luz, Banawa in Gudalupe, Lahug and Talamban.
A specific area is declared a hotspot if more than three cases are reported in just two weeks.
“During the rainy season, there is really imminent danger and the public should be ready to contain the disease. This is the time of the year when the number of dengue cases increases. The number is really high but we have not reached the outbreak level yet,” Macasocol said.
In areas where suspected or confirmed dengue cases were reported, a fumigation team has started larvaecide spraying to kill dengue-carrying mosquitoes and contain the dengue infection there.
Macasocol reminded the public to “search and destroy” breeding sites of dengue-carrying mosquitoes, and to seek early consultation for any sign of illness, particularly fever.
She also urged the public to adopt self-protection measures, such as wearing pants and long-sleeved shirts and putting on mosquito repellants.
