THE City Health Office has recorded 742 dengue cases since January marking an increase of 42 percent compared to the 524 cases registered in the same period last year.
Dr. Dulce Amor Miravite, city health officer, said Wednesday, May 28, that the most of the 742 cases involved children aged one to 10, with three recorded deaths.
“We are closely monitoring our cases of dengue because the trend is that every two to three years, we have a dengue outbreak in the city,” Miravite said in a press conference.
The last time a dengue outbreak was declared in Zamboanga City was on April 2022 with 893 recorded cases with 11 mortalities.
Miravite said the data they gathered showed that 15 villages have registered high attack rate since January this year. The city has a total of 98 villages.
She said that 14 of the 98 villages have registered the most number of dengue cases. The villages of Kasanyangan, San Roque, and Talon-Talon topped the list with 30 cases each.
Five villages—Ayala, Labuan, Sangali, Santa Maria, and Tumaga—recorded the lesser number among the 14 villages with the most number of dengue cases with 21 each.
Miravite advised the residents of the city to practice the “4S” strategy to prevent and control dengue, a disease transmitted by mosquitoes.
The strategies include “Search and Destroy” mosquito breeding sites; “Secure Self-Protection” from mosquito bites; “Seek Early Consultation” if you experience symptoms; and “Say Yes to Fogging” as a last resort during outbreaks.
The symptoms of dengue include a high fever, often accompanied by severe headaches, pain behind the eyes, and muscle and joint pain.
Other common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, a rash, and swollen lymph nodes. Some people may experience a second, measles-like rash later in the illness. (SunStar Zamboanga)