CEBU, Philippines – The Department of Health-7 recently reported that over 7,000 persons were already afflicted with dengue in Central Visayas.
In its report, the regional health office said majority of these cases came from Cebu City with 26 percent, followed by Tagbilaran City at 6.2 percent, Lapu-Lapu City and Dumaguete City at 4 percent and Toledo City with 3.1 percent.
Cebu City still remains the top city with most number of dengue cases with 1,844 and 15 deaths.
Tagbilaran City has 443 cases and three deaths, Lapu-Lapu City with 283 cases and two deaths and Dumaguete City with 270 cases and two deaths.
Toledo City and Talisay City had 224 cases and one death and 215 cases and two deaths, respectively.
Danao City had 160 cases with no death, Mandaue City had 136 cases and four deaths, Naga City with 138 cases with no death, and Sibulan with 125 cases with one death.
In the same report, the DOH-7 also classified as Epidemic Thresholds the barangays of Guadalupe, Labangon, Lahug, Tisa, Apas and Talamban in Cebu City; Barangay Basak in Lapulapu City and barangays Sangat and Poblacion in San Fernando, Cebu province.
In Tagbilaran City, barangays Cogon, Dao and Taloto are also classified as within the Epidemic Threshold together with the barangays of Daro, Looc, Poblacion and Taclobo in Dumaguete City and Barangay Bolocboloc in Sibulan, Negros Oriental.
Hotspot areas in Cebu City are Banawa, Punta Princesa, Sambag II and Talamban. In Tagbilaran City are Bool, Dampas, Manga and Poblacion II.
Barangays Looc and Pajo in Lalu-Lapu City; Lagtang and Lawaan in Talisay City; Tinaan and Uling in Naga City; and Barangays Bagacay, Banilad, Camanjac and Piapi in Dumaguete City are also considered as hotspot areas.
With the current dengue trends, DOH-7 is encouraging all local government units to intensify information campaigns on dengue emphasizing on the importance of eliminating the breeding grounds of mosquitoes and mobilize the community to actively participate in environmental sanitation drives such as the Barangay Brigade campaigns.
DOH-7 director Susanna Madarieta recommends 4S as effective measures in fighting dengue. (FREEMAN)