Dengue cases drop by 54%
THE Department of Health Regional Office (DOH) has noted 54 percent decrease in dengue cases in Davao region as of September this year compared to the same period last year.
Engr. Antonietta P. Ebol, Regional Dengue and Malaria Program Manager, reported during the Hermes Club media conference at Waterfront Insular Hotel yesterday that based on the data given by Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (RESU), the number of dengue cases among four provinces in Davao Region decreased from 6,715 cases for January to September last year to 3,068 on the same period this year.
She said that for Davao City, a decrease of 73% has been noted from 4,649 cases on the same period last year to 1,253 cases this year.
The deaths attributed to dengue also reduced from 38 last year to 11 this year.
Dengue cases in Davao del Norte and Davao del Sur also reduced by 60%, and 34%, while Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental increased by 2% and 9%.
“Sa number of deaths, Davao del Norte, and Davao del Sur had one recorded death each. Sa Compostela Valley wala pang confirmed while Davao Oriental suffered with five deaths because of a dengue outbreak in Baganga,” Ebol said.
She added that the outbreak in Baganga last July and August may be due to the large size of the affected barangay which made it hard to contain, thus, affecting the neighboring barangays.
She said the team from the regional office went to the area and did fumigation for a month which helped contain the area.
“Doon na stop ang pagkalat ng sakit, so maybe hindi lang na-aware ang ating mga tao, networkers sa barangay na merong mga kaso na pwede nilang i-refer,” Ebol said.
Ebol said that despite the increase in other areas, the reduction of cases to other areas of the region can be attributed to participation of different local government units and providing logistics as well as trainings for public health workers.
“Yung mga LGUs tine-train po natin sila kung paano ang tamang pagso-soak ng kanilang mga kurtina nang sa gayon maprotektahan ng kanilang mga pamilya” Ebol said.
She said that the practice of soaking mosquito nets and curtains with insecticides in different households protect family not only from dengue but also from other mosquito-borne diseases.
She added there are still hot spot areas especially denselypopulated areas to watch out for.
“Urban centers are still primarily affected, in Davao City, hot spot areas include, Talomo North, Talomo South, Buhangin, Bunawan and Agdao areas,” Ebol said.
She added that a mosquito can easily travel 400 meters from its breeding area.
They also encourage everyone to practice the four o’clock habit.
Fogging and other mitigation process are still ongoing.