Dengue cases falls 73% in Eastern Visayas

By Sarwell Q. Meniano

TACLOBAN CITY, Dec. 5 (PNA) – Dengue cases in Eastern Visayas went down by 73 percent this year after two years of big spurt in case of mosquito-borne disease, the Department of Health (DOH) regional office here reported.

As of end of November, the DOH regional epidemiology and surveillance unit (RESU) recorded 1,407 cases with six deaths, significantly lower than the 5,139 cases with 21 deaths last year.

The six deaths between January 1 to November 28 were recorded in this city, Laoang in Nothern Samar, Dolores in Eastern Samar, Palo in Leyte, and Catarman in Northern Samar.

“This cycle is expected because in 2013 and 2014, dengue cases in the region were very high. Usually, it goes down every after two to three years,” said DOH-RESU chief Roderick Boyd Cerro.

Most of the cases were from Leyte province, comprising 39 percent of all those inflicted by the mosquito-borne disease. Ages of victims ranged from two months to 82 years old.

The health department is closely monitoring possible dengue outbreak in urban areas where poor waste disposal contributes to high mosquito population.

“After super typhoon Yolanda, we organize dengue brigades to assist us in monitoring and information campaign,” he told PNA.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said that dengue is spread through the bite of the female mosquito (Aedes aegypti). The mosquito becomes infected when it takes the blood of a person infected with the virus.

After about one week, the mosquito can then transmit the virus while biting a healthy person. The mosquito can fly up to 400 meters looking for water-filled containers to lay their eggs, but usually remains close to the human habitation, according to the WHO.

Dengue-infected persons suffer a high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pains, nausea, vomiting and swollen glands or rash. (PNA)
RMA/Sarwell Q. Meniano