No malaria cases in CV, but dengue cases rise

Even if there are still no recorded cases of malaria in Central Visayas, dengue cases in the region have reached to 478 from January to May 19 this year.

This as the Department of Health reminded the public to be vigilant against these diseases, advising people to store water only in covered containers to prevent mosquitoes from breeding.

Medical specialist Jonathan Neil Erasmo, Program Coordinator of Vector-Borne Diseases Control Program, said the public should be aware of malaria, dengue and filariasis, diseases which stem from mosquito bites.

"At rainy seasons where there is an increased availability of stagnant water, suitable for these mosquitoes to breed vector-borne diseases are most likely to occur," Erasmo said. Malaria is an infectious disease characterized by cycles of chills, fever, and sweating, caused by a protozoan of the genus Plasmodium in red blood cells, which is transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected female anopheles mosquito. Dengue is an acute, infectious tropical disease caused by an arbovirus transmitted by mosquitoes, and characterized by high fever, rash, headache, and severe muscle and joint pain.

Records from DOH's Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit showed that the dengue virus affected more than 478 persons in the region, an increase from last year's 303 cases.

RESU's data identified Cebu City as having the most number of dengue cases in Central Visayas with 257 cases, followed by Mandaue City with 55 cases for the first quarter of this year. Talisay City ranked third with 42 cases.

Erasmo advised the public to observe preventive measures like keeping the surroundings clean since areas with stagnant waters could become the breeding sites of mosquitoes-carrying the virus.