Dengue death toll 66 in CV as of August

The death toll of dengue fever in Central Visayas has already reached to 66 as of August 27. The number of those affected is now 2,239, or a 65 percent increase compared to the same period last year, according to the records of the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit.

Jonathan Neil Erasmo, program coordinator for vector-borne diseases of the Department of Health said that from the figures, the highest number of deaths usually came from Cebu with a total of 53 deaths recorded.

Ages of those who were affected of the disease ranged from 10 months to 78 years old wherein 52 percent were male.

Cebu, according to Erasmo has a total of 1,584 cases from January to August 27, compared to last years 537 cases.

Cebu City still has the highest number of cases in the region with 614, with a total of 25 deaths followed by Mandaue City with 106 cases and 1 death.

Talisay City follows next with 93 cases and two deaths followed by Danao City with 84 cases. Toledo followed with 74 cases and 1 fatality followed by Minglanilla with 72 cases and 1 death.

Erasmo said that cases may be high in the region as compared to last year but the situation is still considered "normal".

"We only have a cluster of cases per barangay, the pattern is already expected based on our previous data," Erasmo said.

DOH regional director Susana Madarieta yesterday said fogging is not the ultimate solution to the worsening dengue problem in the region, saying that it does not guarantee that it will eliminate mosquitoes, especially its eggs.

"This will only kill adult mosquitoes but not its eggs and the larvae and fogging is not environmentally friendly," Madarieta said.

To prevent more cases, she recommended local governments to organize and sustain community clean-up campaigns.

The public is also urged to empty bottles, old tires, roof gutters, tin cans, or any receptacle where water can be collected or stored.

Dengue fever is a disease caused by a bite of an infected day-biting female Aedes Aegypti mosquito. Its symptoms include sudden onset of fever, headache, vomiting, abdominal pain, bleeding gums and nose and bloody stools.

The disease begins with sudden onset of high fever and headache accompanied by anorexia, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Dengue hemorrhagic fever, on the other hand, occurs when the blood-clotting function of the body becomes affected. It may present with rashes, bleeding of the nose and gums, and other forms of internal bleeding. - Jasmin R. Uy