With over 4,400 cases and 17 deaths
GOVERNMENT CENTER,PALO,Leyte- The Department of Health (DOH) here in the region has renewed its call for local government units and other sectors to help them intensify the campaign against dengue fever.
This after the health regional office reported that cases of mosquito-causing ailment has surged for the past six months of the year.
As of June 15, dengue fever cases across the region was at 4,437 with 17 deaths.
Boyd Cerro, DOH-8 regional epidemiologist, said that the current number of cases is more than double compared to last year covering the same period.
Last year’s record covering its first six months was 2,011 cases with 14 deaths.
“This increase of dengue fever cases of the region is very alarming. And considering its current trend, there is a possibility that last year’s entire dengue fever cases will be surpassed,” Cerro said in an interview.
Cerro said that there were 11,023 dengue fever cases in the region last year with 61 deaths.
The health official said that as a precautionary measures, they are calling anew close cooperation with the local government units, even school managements, to help them address the ballooning cases of dengue fever in the region.
“The DOH could not do this alone so we need the cooperation of everybody,” Cerro said.
Cleaning the sorroundings, particularly the breeding places of the dengue-causing mosquitoes should be conducted regularly.
“The hot weather that we have also contributes to the high number of dengue fever cases because these mosquitoes easily hatches, thus easy for them to grow and spread. And for some reason, they also attracts to our perspirations,” Cerro said.
Of the 17 fatalities, three were from Guiuan town, Eastern Samar and two in Tacloban City.
The following areas had one fatality each: Kawayan, Biliran; Sogod, Southern Leyte; Mahaplag, Babatngon, Merida and Babatngon, all in Leyte; Calbayog and Catbalogan cities, all in Samar; General MacArthur, Hernani, Mercedes, Quinapondan, where the last casualty on June 1 was recorded, all in Eastern Samar.
Of the 4,437 cases, Leyte to include its cities of Tacloban, Ormoc, and Baybay, posted the highest number of dengue fever at 1,240 followed by Samar to include cases in Catbalogan and Calbayog cities at 1,056; Northern Samar, 946; Eastern Samar to include Borongan City, 611; Biliran, 355; and Southern Leyte, to include Maasin, 229.
BY JOEY A. GABIETA
