MORE than 10,000 suspected cases of dengue, a mosquito-borne disease, were reported by the Department of Health (DOH)-Northern Mindanao in the period of January to July this year.
According to Dr. Dave Mendoza of the Regional Epidemiology, Surveillance and Disaster Response Unit of DOH, the number of dengue cases in region is 52 percent higher compared to the same period in 2018.
“Our cases have been rising already. Since January, we have already warned the general public that our cases are going to rise since based on our surveillance system, nakita namin yung (we saw the) trend. Every two to three years, aakyat yung cases ng dengue,” Mendoza said.
“The good thing is our fatality rate is less than one percent,” he added.
Northern Mindanao recorded 44 deaths in the period of January to July this year, 10 less than that of the same period in 2018.
Mendoza added that in 2018, Misamis Occidental recorded the highest number of dengue-related deaths. This year, however, it’s Lanao del Norte and Misamis Oriental.
Among the five provinces of Northern Mindanao, he said, Bukidnon recorded the highest number of dengue cases.
“Ngayon kasi our surveillance system is really functional, in other words, lahat ng hospital natin are already reporting, and even the rural health unit, nagre-report na sila,” Mendoza said.
“Before they were focused on a few big hospitals. We have more than 100 hospitals, both private and public, that are reporting to us everyday at tsaka weekly,” he added.
The age range, meanwhile, is less than one year, the youngest, and the oldest is 90 years old, according to Mendoza.
“Median, yung pinaka common na marami is nasa 12 years old, so mga bata pa rin siya,” he said.
City figures
Meanwhile, the City Health Office (CHO) head, Dr. Fe Bongcas, reported a 97 percent increase in the number of dengue cases in Cagayan de Oro City in the said period this year, 1,156 cases compared to the 585 cases in 2018.
Bongcas added that a total of 11 dengue-related deaths were recorded by the CHO.
Barangay Carmen has the highest number of dengue cases in the city, according to the CHO. Apart from Carmen, among the top barangays with high cases of dengue are: Canitoan, Lumbia, Balulang, Lapasan, Patag, Kauswagan, Gusa, Iponan, Bugo, Bulua, Macabalan, and Macasandig.
Mendoza said that DOH is focusing on the preventive and control measures, promoting the 4S against dengue: Search and destroy mosquito-breeding sites; Self-protection measures; Seek early consultation; and Support fogging for impending outbreaks.
The City Health Office, on their part, will be implementing their house-to-house campaign in Cagayan de Oro.
Last Monday, July 15, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III declared Dengue Alert Status in selected regions in the country. This is in response to the rapidly increasing number of cases observed in the Philippines.