DOH chief: Dengue cases on the decline

The number of dengue cases in the country has been on the decline but Health Secretary Francisco Duque III is still not contented about this.

In an interview, Duque said from Jan. 1 to Aug. 9, a total of 23,150 dengue cases had been admitted at the different hospitals of the Department of Health across the country.

Duque noted this figure is 4.7 percent lower compared to the 24,299 cases reported during the same period last year. “It decreased but we have to work more to bring it down further.”

Records of the DOH showed that Metro Manila accounted for the highest number of cases with 32 percent, followed by Central Luzon with 11.5 percent; Calabarzon with 9.7 percent; Central Visayas with 9.6 percent; Davao with 7.1 percent and Zamboanga Peninsula with 6.6 percent.

The health chief urged the public to keep their vigilance up by eliminating anything that could become breeding sites for Aedes aegypti, the dengue-causing mosquitoes.

“We urge the public to observe our ‘Four S’ campaign against dengue. We should not be complacent when it comes to our health,” Duque added.

The Four S pertains to search and destroy the breeding sites of mosquitoes; seek immediate consultation; self protection like the use of mosquito nets and saying “yes” only to discriminate fogging.

Duque added that community leaders must lead in environmental clean up to fight dengue.