IN A bid to prevent an increase in dengue cases in Bacolod City, Mayor Evelio Leonardia has ordered all the barangays to reactivate their respective anti-dengue task force.
Councilor Lady Gles Pallen, president of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC), said they need the participation of everybody here to maintain cleanliness inside their homes and surroundings to combat dengue.
Pallen said the public should observe the "4S" in the fight against dengue which stands for "Search and destroy," "use of Self-protective measures," "Seek early treatment," and "Say yes to fogging/spraying."
She said the barangay health workers were also distributing the larvicides to be used to address the dengue cases within their barangays.
Palled added that the larvicidal powder will be poured on stagnant waters in canals and drainage systems, among others.
City Health Office (CHO) records showed dengue cases in Bacolod City have increased by 57.7 percent from January to May 7, 2022, compared to the same period last year.
From January to May 7, 2022, Bacolod City has a total of 115 dengue cases with four fatalities compared to 73 dengue cases with two deaths for the same period last year.
Of 115 dengue cases, Barangays Singcang-Airport and Estefania recorded the most number of cases with 14 each.
They were followed by Barangays Mansilingan and Granada with 10 cases each; Barangay Mandalagan - nine; Barangays Sum-ag and Alijis - eight each; Barangay Tangub - seven; Barangay Banago - five; and Barangay Pahanocoy - four.
Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral disease characterized by high fever accompanied by severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pains, nausea, vomiting, swollen glands and rashes.
Dr. Grace Tan, head of the CHO Environment Sanitation Division, earlier said the two most prominent species that transmit viruses include the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which stays inside the house.
The other one is the Aedes albopictus mosquito, which stays outside and transmits the viruses that cause dengue fever, yellow fever, among others.
The most common breeding places of Aedes mosquitoes include collected or stored water inside and around homes, while late or refusal to seek early treatment and consultation are reasons why patients fall ill with dengue, she added.
In Negros Occidental, the Provincial Health Office (PHO) earlier announced that dengue cases in the province have already reached the alert level threshold and the situation is already alarming.
Based on the Dengue Fever Surveillance Report from January 1, 2022 to May 14, 2022, the number of dengue cases in the province has now reached 511, the highest in the entire Western Visayas.
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Ernell Tumimbang said the increase is 193.68 percent or 338 cases more compared to the same period in 2021 with only 174 cases.
Hinigaran town currently has the highest number of dengue cases with 46, while Victorias City has the lowest percentage of dengue cases with 86.67 percent.
Fatalities in the province remained at five since January of this year.