1,176 dengue cases in CV from January - May 2010

CEBU, Philippines - The number of dengue cases in Central Visayas this year has reached 1,176 as of May 22, health officials said yesterday.

The number is 376 higher than the 800 recorded cases in the same period last year. However, the number of deaths recorded went down to nine cases compared to last year’s 14.

Cebu City remained on top of the list with 547 cases this year. It recorded 215 cases in the same period last year. Eight deaths were recorded in 2009 while six casualties were recorded this year. 

There are also more dengue cases in Talisay City from January to May 22 this year because the number went up to 112 from last year’s 40 cases.

The number also climbed in Danao City with 91 cases this year compared to last year’s 26 and in Mandaue City with 50 cases this year compared to the 33 cases last year.

Toledo City had the same problem because the statistics showed that there are more dengue cases this year when it rose to 68 from only 50 in 2009. Tagbilaran’s dengue cases also went up to 99 compared to 32 last year.

Health officials also announced that the town of Garcia Hernandez in Bohol and Asturias in Cebu also had more cases this year with 41 and 36 cases, respectively.

The number, however, went down in Lapu-Lapu City with 79 cases this year compared to the 208 cases last year.

The same positive development happened in Dumaguete City in the neighboring island of Negros Oriental, which saw only 44 cases in the same period this year compared to the 136 cases last year.

Dr. Raymund Ogan, dengue coordinator in Cebu City, said the city’s health personnel are conducting “double time” in spraying chemicals in all public schools to kill adult mosquitoes.

With water shortage a big problem in the province these days, health officials also urged those storing water to make sure their containers are covered to prevent mosquitoes from breeding therein. — THE FREEMAN