A CITY health official said Tuesday, September 3, there is no need for the City Government to declare a state of calamity due to dengue, as massive anti-dengue campaign helped reduced dengue cases in Cagayan de Oro.
Dr. Joey Retuya, City Health Office (CHO) epidemiologist, said the number of dengue cases dropped from 200 in the previous weeks to 135 last week.
Retuya said the massive clean-up drive launched last month helped in the decrease of cases. This is the first time since January that the trend of dengue cases is declining.
At present, there are still 2,004 dengue cases in the city but the prevalence of cases in each barangay is going down.
Retuya said there is no need to declare a state of calamity. He said there should only be no let-up in destroying breeding sites of mosquitoes.
"Kung mobalik ug saka, nagpasabot nga wala nato napadayon ang atong hiniusa nga paglimpyo kay duna may epekto gyud. If we get everybody on board, then we can prevent further increase of the cases," Retuya said.
"Dako ang chance gihapon nga motaas kung dili mapadayon ang pagpanglimpyo sa palibot," he added.
Official records show that nine persons already died due to dengue. The CHO is also validating information that the death toll already reached 16.
Since January to August, Barangay Carmen remains at the top of the list, having 319 dengue cases, followed by BBarangay Balulang with 149 cases, Kauswagan with 144 cases, Canitoan with 140 cases, and Iponan with 126 dengue cases.
Despite the decline, Retuya said the City Government is not taking any chances and will continue its intensified campaign against dengue.