Higher than last year’s: Cebu City with most dengue cases in Central Visayas

CEBU, Philippines – Cebu City has recorded an “alarming” 831 dengue cases for the first nine months of the year, far higher compared to the same period last year.

In fact, in a data released by the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit of Department of Health-7, Cebu City has the highest number of dengue cases in Central Visayas.

And as has been the case through the years, Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City has the highest number of dengue cases with 80.

DOH-7 Epidemiologist Renan Cimafranca said that local government units in Central Visayas are negligent in sustaining cleanup drives in their respective communities as one way to minimize mosquito breeding sites.

“Lax ra gyud kaayo ang atong mga LGUs in sustaining clean-up drives.  Anha na ma gud manglimpyo kung naa nay outbreak,” he lamented.

He said mosquitoes cannot be eliminated but destroying their breeding sites would lessen the numbers of mosquitoes.

“Kay kung ma-destroy ni ilang mga breeding sites, it means lesser number of mosquitoes…. We cannot eliminate mosquitoes but we can control their population,” he said.

Cimafranca identified the breeding sites such as tin cans, bottles, water containers without cover, styrofoam, cellophane, and natural “water containers” such as pineapple or banana leaves.

According to the DOH, Cebu City is followed by Lapulapu City (212 cases, one death), Sagbayan (201 cases, one death), Guihulngan (168 cases, no death), Dumaguete City (164 cases, one death), Tagbilaran City (163 cases, one death), Toledo City (154 cases, two deaths), Mandaue City (134 cases, two deaths), Liloan (133 cases, one death) and  Consolacion (122 cases, no death).

Yesterday, Cebu City Health Department Chief Daisy Villa said that of the 831 dengue cases, they recorded at least seven deaths, including the recent cases in Barangay Suba which claimed the lives of two sisters.

In 2014, CHD recorded only 762 dengue cases for the whole year, which is 69 cases lower than this year.

“One of the factors sa increasing number of dengue cases is the weather. Mas daghan man ta og uwan karon. Unya pundok sa tubig, wala lang gyod kay kompiyansa ra ba. Apil pod ang location, kay kaning Suba and Pasil mga coastal areas, parat ang dagat, pero ang ato lang gyod mga lugar nga densely populated, bugnaw kay dili kasulod ang init, and naay mga areas nga maka-store og tubig,” Villa said.

Both barangays had been subjected to a cleanup drive of the city government, and Villa said she noticed that there were several areas identified as habitats of mosquitoes.

“For our intervention, dapat kuhaon ‘sa ang mga kaitlogan sa lamok. Giingnan na nato nga manglimpyo gyod. Dili lang sa balay, apil ang eskwelahan. Kay sa eskwelahan mismo, daghan og cases,” Villa said.

She also said CHD is implementing the 5s: search and destroy, seek early intervention, self protection, say no to fogging, and social mobilization.

“Sa search and destroy, atong pangitaon ang asa dapit ang kapuy-an ug kaitlogan nga lamok. Second is ang seek early intervention nga dapat kon naay hilanat, adto dayon sa health center for consultation. Third is self protection, meaning mag-long sleeves and long pants. Fourth is say no to fogging; fogging can be done in an outbreak only. Fifth is social mobilization nga dapat mag-involve tanan, ang city, barangay and community,” she said.

Villa said the number of deaths due to dengue is “alarming” but not an outbreak yet.

“Dili nato matawag og outbreak, kay these barangays have cases in the previous years. Makaingon ta og outbreak kon in the last five years, wala pay single case. Alarming? Yes of course. Alarming siya kay epidemic man gyod siya,” she added.

As to the treatment of dengue, she could not advise the use of herbal medicine.

“Ang ako lang gyod, dili lang sa pagdao, the treatment of dengue is only fluids. Therefore, we have to increase the fluids. Kon naa sa balay, serial examination can do. Apple juice lang gyod,” she said.

“Dili lang ta mo kompiyansa sa hilanat nga isa ug duha ka adlaw, consult gyod dayon,” she added.

Villa said she will coordinate with barangay officials for further interventions and to conduct a study on how to prevent further dengue incidents.

Also, with the recent death of dengue victims in Minglanilla, Alegria and Liloan towns, the Provincial Health Office is asking the communities to act against the disease now.

Provincial Head Sanitation Inspector 4 James Cañete said the number of dengue cases is rising, with Argao having the most number of victims.

He said Argao has the most number of dengue cases in the province because it is very populated.

The Provincial Health Office is encouraging tight supervision by adults especially since children are the most common dengue victims.

Cañete reminded the public that dengue cases occur even during dry season or even when there is a dry spell.

“Wala naman nag-agad sa dry or wet season ang mga dengue-carrying mosquitoes karon kay mabuhi naman sila anywhere bisa’g dili pa clear water”, he said.

Cañete said community participation is a big help in lowering dengue cases all-throughout the province.

“Ang Provincial Epidemiology Surveillance Unit moadto og motan-aw kung asa dapita ang area; ug kung unsay kinahanglan sa lungsod mo provide ang province” he said.

As to Mary Angeline Petallar, five, and Rianne Abegail Petallar, 12, who died of dengue last Friday, their mother Aileen is asking assistance from the city government for their burial.

“Hinay-hinay lang gyod ta og dawat ani. Nahurot na among luha sa kasakit,” Aileen said.

Both Mary Angeline and Rianne will be laid to rest on Saturday.

Aileen believed that her children got the dengue virus in school, not in their house.

“Pirmi gyod ko manlimpyo man, dili gyod na sa amoa,” she said.

Pasil Elementary School Principal Lilia Ramirez, on the other hand, said that the school has nothing to do with the illnesses of the children.

She said, though, that the school have had 16 dengue cases, three of them resulting in death. Of the 16 pupils, 11 were from Suba while five were from Pasil

“Na alarm gyod ko ani. Kay ang commonality sa mga bata kay ang eskwelahan. But dili gyod ko kaingon sa school ni. Dili lang sad ta maghunaw,” Ramirez said.

Cimafranca said that once the vaccine against dengue will be officially available commercially within the year, it would surely reduce the number of dengue cases.

He said that there is a plan to include dengue vaccination in DOH’s routine immunization. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon with Janica Gee Otom, USJ-R Intern / RHM (FREEMAN)