THE Department of Health (DOH)-Davao has recorded a total of 21 deaths due to dengue among the total of 4,345 cases in the region as of August 5.
In a press conference yesterday, August 8, Health Assistant Secretary Abdullah Dumama said that most of the deaths recorded were in Davao City with 11 incidents followed by Davao del Norte with six while Compostela Valley, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, and Davao Oriental have one death each. In 2018, DOH-Davao recorded only 14 deaths.
Dumama clarified that those victims who succumbed to dengue were not injected with Dengvaxia before that might have worsened their case.
Davao City also registered the highest number of dengue patients with 2,168 followed by Compostela Valley (788), Davao Oriental (641), Davao del Norte (562), Davao del Sur (151) and lastly Davao Occidental with 35.
Dumama said that although DOH has already declared on Tuesday, August 6, a national dengue epidemic as cases continued to increase, Davao region remains in the alert threshold. However, he added that there is a huge possibility that the figure may reach epidemic threshold if prevention will not be undertaken.
“Actually it’s national declaration so even if a region is not highly affected or not badly affected, pwede na kasi national na. Yong mga LGUs can access the calamity fund,” he said.
Dumama said the DOH-Epidemiology Bureau has noted that this October, dengue is expected to further peak, thus, they are urging the public to be part of their campaign to weed out dengue breeding sites by religiously exercising the 4 o’clock habit at home with the onset of the rainy season.
“We are still expecting more at ang Davao region hindi pwedeng maging complacent kasi maaring nasa below alert threshold pero in October kung hindi sugpuin ito magha-hatch na naman ang mga eggs after four months maging adult na in how many days and pwede na silang mangagat,” he added.
Dumama said that according to some researchers, the climate change has provided these mosquitoes a better environment which allows them to proliferate fast. Previously, it took 10 to 14 days before they could bite but now it only takes four days due to the warm temperature which is conducive for these insects to thrive.