Rising dengue cases noted in Eastern Visayas

PALO, Leyte, Aug. 23 -- The Department of Health (DOH) has expressed concern over the rising number dengue cases in Eastern Visayas, with 10 deaths and 3,066 affected from January until this week.

The number of people who fell ill this year is two percent higher compared to the same period in 2017.

Citing trends, it is expected to climb to 5,000 by the end of the year, said DOH Regional Director Minerva Molon in a press briefing here Thursday.

“This is alarming because the number is higher than last year, however, we expect this because the number of cases normally goes up every five years,” Molon told reporters.

The rising number cases prompted the local governments of Baybay City; Hilongos, Leyte; Salcedo, Quinapondan, and Hernani in Eastern Samar to declare a state of health emergency.

The surge in dengue cases has been recorded in Tacloban City; Cabucgayan, Biliran; Bato, Capoocan, and Mahaplag in Leyte; Calbayog City, Catbalogan City, Daram, and Matuguinao in Samar; Mercedes, Eastern Samar; and Maasin City, Southern Leyte.

“We have been encouraging the public to start dengue prevention within ourselves by maintaining cleanliness in our surroundings, empty containers of waters to eliminate breeding places of mosquitoes,” Molon added.

The official reiterated the DOH’s “4S” to fight dengue as an effective strategy to prevent cases and deaths.

These “4S” strategy are search and destroy mosquito breeding places, secure self-protection, seek early consultation, and support fogging/spraying only in hot spot areas, where increase in cases is registered for two consecutive weeks, to prevent impending outbreak.

Dengue fever is marked by an onset of sudden high fever, severe headache, and pain behind the eyes, muscles and joints. Some may develop rashes and varying degree of bleeding in various parts of the body.

Aside from dengue, the same type of mosquitoes also transmit the chikungunya virus that afflicted 645 residents in San Jorge, Tarangnan, and Calbayog City in Samar; San Roque, Northern Samar; and Maripipi, Biliran. (SQM/PNA)