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Monday, December 10, 2007
Private lagoon in Cebu tied to dengue
By Rene H. Martel
THE Cebu City Government may forcibly enter a fenced property in Barangay Labangon, which tops all 80 barangays in the number of deaths due to dengue, to fill up a lagoon believed to be a breeding place for mosquitoes.
Councilor Gerardo Carillo said he will ask fellow city councilors today to authorize the City Health Department (CHD) to start condemnation proceedings against the property.
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This will allow the City to take action against the lagoon “at the cost of the owner.”
Vice Mayor Michael Rama last week said he will talk with Labangon officials to deal with the lagoon, after City Councilor Arsenio Pacaña brought it to the council’s attention.
Pacaña said the lagoon gets filthy, especially that the septic tanks overflow toward the stagnant water, when it rains.
The lagoon was formed after an excavation for a commercial complex was abandoned in 1997 because of the economic crisis, he added.
With five dead from January to November this year, Labangon tops all Cebu City barangays in the number of deaths caused by dengue fever.
A dengue outbreak was declared in the barangay as well as in Barangays Poblacion Pardo and Bulacao last Sept. 4.
As of Dec. 5, the CHD recorded 40 deaths due to dengue since January this year.
Carillo said there is a need to drain the lagoon as soon as possible, adding that while dengue cases are diminishing, Labangon remains a “place of concern” for the city.
His office did a surveillance on the lagoon two weeks ago, or immediately after Pacaña complained about it last Nov. 22.
Carillo again urged the people to visit satellite laboratories for their tests before going to the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) to be tested for dengue fever.
At least seven such laboratories provide free complete blood counts (CBC) and platelet counts.
Those who suspect they have dengue fever can go to the satellite laboratories in Barangays Parian, Luz, Talamban, Poblacion Pardo, Punta Princesa, Mabolo and Guadalupe.
The laboratories were set up as part of the CHD’s early detection to “ensure immediate management, fast referrals, proper treatment, recovery, and death prevention” of dengue cases.
Dengue fever’s symptoms include muscle and joint pains, rashes, vomiting, loss of appetite and in severe cases, nose bleeds and abdominal pains.
At least 800 patients were so far served by the satellite laboratories as of Nov. 10, when confirmed dengue cases already reached 1,650.
Fewer
The figure is 112.90 percent higher compared to the same period last year. The number of deaths that time was just 36.
In November, dengue fever killed nine residents, two of whom were from Barangay Inayawan, two from Bacayan, and one each from Malubog, Luz, Apas and Pahina Central.
The number of deaths, though, was fewer compared to the same period last year.
According to a report by City Epidemiologist Durinda Macasocol, the trend is decreasing.
But Carillo said current statistics do not reflect yet the real situation because the CHD does not include victims admitted in private hospitals.
In a progress report submitted on the use of City funds against dengue during their session last week, Carillo said the City did a massive clean-up drive and mist-spraying on the 25 barangays with the most number of dengue cases.
Selective mist-spraying was done on the next 20 barangays, while barangay health workers conducted information campaigns down to the sitio level.
Handouts, he said, were also ordered for distribution in schools and the barangays.
The City has called on all the residents to destroy mosquito breeding sites and to drain containers where stagnant rainwater may have collected. There is no vaccine for dengue fever, but early detection makes the cases manageable. (RHM of Sun.Star Cebu)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Manila. (December 10, 2007 issue)
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