THE Department of Health (DOH)-Davao reported that dengue cases in Davao region have more than doubled to 2,468 from January to May 16, as compared to the same period in 2018 with only 1,050 cases.
DOH-Davao records further showed a total of four deaths have been recorded due to late discovery of what is presumed to be just a mere fever but the condition of the patient has gotten worse when brought to the hospital.
In a press conference on Monday, May 20, DOH-Davao Regional Dengue Control and Prevention Program Manager engineer Antonietta Ebol said they this may still increase in the coming weeks.
“Nag-expect tayo na epidemic year kasi ang last kaso natin [in] 2016 umabot tayo ng 12,000 ‘yon yong time na umupo si PRRD (President Rodrigo Duterte) na nagalit siya sa lahat so after three years niyan kasi cyclical pattern, we’re expecting for that [dengue cases to rise],” Ebol said.
She said the figure is gradually increasing despite the measures and interventions that they have undertaken to minimize dengue cases. They will continue and intensify their awareness campaign down to the grassroots level to at least reduce it if not eliminate mosquito-borne diseases.
“Hindi natin maiiwasan talaga kasi naging virulent na ang mga lamok. And then lahat ng zero type nasa Region 11 (We cannot avoid the epidemic because the mosquitos have become virulent. All the zero type are also in the region),” Ebol said.
Zero type means mosquitoes that transmit dengue and chikungunya diseases to humans.
Based on the cumulative total from January 1 to May 16, 2019, of suspected cases based on the signs and symptoms presented by the patients, Davao City posted the highest number of dengue cases with 1,039 and one death.
It was followed by Compostela Valley with 525 cases; Davao Oriental with 487 and one death; Davao del Norte with 323; Davao del Sur with 75 cases and one death; and Davao Occidental with 75 and one death.
Ebol clarified that these are not confirmed cases.
In comparison to the 2018 data, Davao City has 509 cases with one death, followed by Compostela Valley with 253 cases; Davao del Norte with 116 cases; Davao Oriental with 113 cases; Davao del Sur with 40 cases and one death; and Davao Occidental with 19 cases and one death.
Ebol said the upcoming rainy season and the warm temperature do not bode well for the dengue situation in Davao Region. The rainy season will produce breeding sites while the warm temperature may multiply the number of mosquitoes.
They have also strengthened their monitoring system and submit weekly reports of dengue cases from different areas. These reports are submitted to the Health secretary.
“Aside sa mandate sa DOH, gina-capacitate nato atong mga local government unit partners ug nagahatag pod tag commodities nga magamit nila. Ato pod gi-tap ang iba’t-ibang sector, nagsulat ta sa governor, city and municipal mayor, ug DILG (We have also capacitated our local government units and provided them with the materials they may need. We also tapped different sectors and reached out to the governors, city and municipal mayor, and the DILG),” she added.
The Anti-Dengue Task Force was also revived to monitor what is being done in different areas to mitigate the effects of the spread of dengue.