Cebu City shows success in anti-dengue campaign

CEBU, Philippines — Following a successful campaign, Cebu City is no longer included on the list of areas in Central Visayas with high cases of dengue.

During the Open Line News Media Forum held yesterday, Department of Health Regional Epidemiologist Dr. Eugenia Mercedes Cañal said Cebu City placed “good” in the drive against dengue that it fell from the list of 20 areas with the most number of dengue cases in the region.

Previous report stated that the Cebu City Health Department implemented an aggressive approach against dengue that includes prompt monitoring of cases and focusing on breeding places of mosquitoes.

Cañal also mentioned the top five local governments units in the region with the most number of dengue cases from January 1 to June 15, 2024.

According to the data from DOH-7, these LGUs are Inabanga, Bohol with 424 cases; Tagbilaran City, 230; Danao City, 156; Toledo City, 144; and Buenavista, Bohol, 134 cases.

Cañal said that in the same period, DOH-7 has recorded a total of 7,132 dengue cases with 19 fatalities in the region.

When asked about the changes of the rankings since cities like Cebu City and Talisay City were always on top of the list before, Cañal said the growing population density and the increasing number of clients seeking for consultation served as the factors of the fluctuation.

“Maybe it’s because of the density of the population as well. It’s not just nga ni taas si Bohol, si Bohol wala silay efforts. It’s not about that…maybe nagtaas ilang population, nagkadaghan ang mga bata or maybe nagkdaghan ang nagpakonsulta nato maong na-capture nato ang mga kaso,” Cañal said.

“Ako, I don’t really mind about the rising numbers in the dengue cases in our region because it would only mean one thing (that) we are doing our best efforts in surveillance kay na-capture nato sila (dengue cases). The doctors are doing their best efforts as well to manage mga dengue cases nato (particularly kung) ngano ni gamay atong case fatality rate,” Cañal added.

Cañal also said that the region has a 0.3 percent case fatality rate, which for her is a “good thing” as it did not reach one percent compared to the situation before the pandemic.

With regard to the looming rainy season, Cañal advised parents to prevent their children being drenched in floodwater to prevent contracting “W.I.L.D.” illnesses.

Theses “W.I.L.D.” illnesses, according to her, are the water-borne infectious diseases, influenza, leptospirosis, and dengue. — Nicholas Jon Malaga, CNU Intern (FREEMAN)