Saturday, August 09, 2008 Dengue cases in Cebu City drop
MAYOR Tomas Osmeña has reported a “strong reversal” in the trend of dengue cases in Cebu City, with the number of residents afflicted July this year numbering less than that of the same month in 2007.
He said July is supposed to be the start of the big increase in dengue cases, which so far claimed the lives of 31 people this year. But only 104 incidents were reported last month compared to 220 last year.
“For the first time, for whatever its worth, we have less dengue cases in July than (the same month) last year… We’re supposed to have a heavy surge,” the mayor said.
In January to June this year, 726 dengue cases were already recorded, compared to 282 in 2007, or an increase of 157.45 percent.
According to the City Health Department (CHD) Epidemiology Statistics and Surveillance Unit, Barangay Guadalupe still has the most number of dengue cases with 49 January to June this year.
Second was Labangon with 40, followed by Inayawan with 39; Mabolo, 35; Tisa, 32; Talamban, 31; Basak San Nicolas, 29; Lahug, 29; Bulacao, 24; and Mambaling, 23.
With three each, Guadalupe, Tisa, and Talamban have the most number of deaths due to dengue.
Rainy season
Based on experience, dengue cases dramatically rise starting July up to the end of the year because of the onset of the rainy season, and declines at the start of the following year.
“For some strange reason I should not be proud of this, because 104 is 104 victims. But this shows a strong reversal, and July is the start of the bad months,” he said.
Also, the mayor reminded all 80 barangays to start implementing the anti-rabies program after City Department of Veterinary Medicine (DVMF) Chief Alice Utlang said not one did.
The City Government targeted that the city is rabies-free in 2010.
Osmeña, though, said that in the government, if somebody has a certain way of doing doings, it is hard to make him change.
“(But) I should look into it, because it’s important that we become rabies-free,” the mayor said.
He said he was proud that no single case of rabies in humans was reported in the city so far.
He credited Utlang for “doing wonders” and turning around the department, compared to the previous city veterinarian.
He earlier boasted that while Cebu City is rabies-free, the Cebu Province ranks fourth in the country in terms of rabies in humans. (RHM)
