THE local government of Mati City recorded 21 dengue cases for the month of April, according to the City Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (Cesu) on Friday, April 22, 2022.
Of the 21 cases, 15 were recorded during the first week of April and six during the second week, according to April Delagua, disease surveillance officer of the Cesu. She said dengue cases are consolidated weekly.
Delagua told SunStar Davao on April 22 that the 21 cases add to the overall tally of 147 Dengue cases in Mati City beginning in January of this year, most of which were concentrated in Barangay Central with 53, Matiao with 22, and Dahican with 28 cases.
“Usually, meron talaga silang breeding sites. Pag may tanggap na kami na report na dengue cases, pupuntahan namin and ng mga barangay sanitary inspectors at mag larvae surveillance (Those places usually have breeding sites. If we receive reported cases of dengue, we immediately conduct a site visit with the barangay sanitary inspectors to do larvae surveillance),” she said, adding how breeding sites are usually found in households.
Most of the dengue cases in Mati City are between the ages of five to 10 years old, according to Delagua, since young children are naturally more vulnerable to such viruses.
In particular, the age group zero to 12 years old have the highest number of cases with 87, followed by age group 19 to 59 with 30 cases, and age group 13 to 18 with 27.
Senior citizens aged 60 years old and above only have two cases so far with one reported death recorded in January 2022 aged 76 years old.
The Cesu frequently holds monitoring and site surveillance of puroks with possible breeding sites of dengue-carrying diseases and conducts indoor residual spraying per household in puroks with reported cases of dengue.
Delagua reminded Mati City residents to be wary of possible breeding sites in their households and follow the 4S of dengue prevention, which is Search and Destroy possible breeding sites, Seek early consultation if feeling unwell, practice Self-protection measures, and Support fogging/spraying measures.