MATI City tallies 403 dengue cases since the beginning of the year, according to the latest report of the City Health Office as of October 29.
The most number of cases was recorded in the second week of August with 16 cases, followed by 15 cases each recorded in the third week of February and April, and the first week of June.
In the past three weeks as of October 9, 15 cases were recorded wherein the majority were located in Barangay Central with nine cases, followed by Barangay Dahican with six cases, and Barangay Sanghay and Badas with two cases each.
This is an increase compared to the number of cases back in April with 147 cases, wherein most cases were concentrated in Barangay Central.
Despite the high tally, death cases due to dengue remain low, with only one death case recorded last February.
Minors make up most of the dengue cases, with the population group aged five to ten years old naturally the most vulnerable to the disease, according to April Delagua, disease surveillance officer of the City Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (Cesu).
“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),” Delagua said in a previous interview.
In line with this, the City Health Office of Mati City continuously reminds the public to follow the four-step protocol to prevent dengue -- destroy breeding places, ensure personal protection against mosquitoes, support indoor and outdoor spraying, and seek early consultation if signs of dengue are observed. ICM