THE City Health Office (CHO) is monitoring five suspected cases of chikungunya in Davao City, with an increasing number reported in Barangay 9-A.
Melodina Babante, chief of CHO’s Tropical Division, confirmed that an initial investigation identified chikungunya in the area, though final confirmation is pending.
“Ang Chikungunya dili siya makapatay, dili siya fatal pero ang mga clinical signs and symptoms parehas sa Dengue (Chikungunya is not fatal, but its symptoms are similar to dengue),” Babante said during the ISpeak Media Forum on January 30, 2025.
Babante said the CHO has implemented several measures to curb the rise in chikungunya cases. These include widespread information campaigns to raise awareness about the disease and the importance of keeping surroundings clean.
The office has also carried out search-and-destroy operations to eliminate mosquito breeding sites and conducted fogging in response to the increasing cases.
Despite these efforts, Babante noted that community cooperation remains a major challenge. She urged the public to take proactive steps in preventing the spread of chikungunya.
In 2024, the City Health Office recorded 12 chikungunya cases across various barangays in Davao City. Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) reported 383 chikungunya cases nationwide from January to March 2024, a significant increase from just 71 cases in 2023.
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines chikungunya as a virus transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. Common symptoms include fever, joint pain, headache, muscle pain, swelling, and rash. There is currently no medication or vaccine available for the virus.
Because chikungunya shares symptoms with dengue and Zika virus, it is sometimes misdiagnosed. The CHO stressed that severe symptoms and fatalities are rare and usually occur due to underlying health conditions. RGP
