Due to surge of dengue fever cases
TACLOBAN CITY – Ormoc City was placed under a state of calamity on Thursday, August 8, due to an outbreak of dengue cases.
Meanwhile, all 19 areas in Southern Leyte have reported cases of the mosquito-borne disease.
Ormoc City recorded 444 dengue cases from January 1 up to August 3, with 19 out of its 85 barangays reporting cases, ranging from eight to 24 per barangay.
The declaration of the state of calamity by the Sangguniang Panlungsod members, held during their special session on Thursday contained under Resolution Number 2024-234, was based on the recommendations both made by the City Health Board, chaired by City Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez, and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council issued on August 6 and 7, respectively.
“The City Health Officer, Dr. Sarah Hermoso reported that there are 444 cases of dengue fever from January 1, 2024 to August 3,2024 and this number is 225% higher compared to the same period (last year),” part of the resolution said.
Hermoso said that about 20 percent of Ormoc’s population is now affected by dengue, exceeding the epidemic threshold.
Ormoc has more than 230,900 population, based on the Philippine Statistics Authority survey in 2020.
The declaration of a state of calamity will now allow the city government to access its calamity fund to procure needed medicines and supplies to address the surge in dengue cases.
In Southern Leyte, the provincial epidemiology and surveillance unit reported that the capital city of Maasin, along with all 18 municipalities, have confirmed dengue cases from January 1 to July 27.
The province has recorded 785 dengue cases during this period, though no fatalities have been reported. Maasin City posted the highest number of cases with 346, followed by the town of Macrohon with 205.
Jelyn Malibago, the regional information officer of the Department of Health (DOH), stated that while all areas in Southern Leyte have reported dengue cases, there has been no declared outbreak.
“In the case of Southern Leyte, there is no declared outbreak, but two areas, Maasin City and Macrohon, are under investigation and consistent monitoring,” she said.
Most of the victims in Southern Leyte were children aged 5 to 14 years.
With the increasing number of dengue cases in the region, the DOH has renewed its call for communities to implement the 5S strategy against the disease: search and destroy mosquito breeding sites, seek consultation, self-protect, support fogging activities, and sustain hydration.
Dengue is a viral illness transmitted through the bite of a mosquito infected with the dengue virus, which can be fatal if not treated early.
Symptoms include sudden high fever, skin rash, severe headaches, nose and mouth bleeding, and severe joint pain.
In the entire Eastern Visayas region, there have been 5,730 dengue cases reported over the past seven months, a significant increase from last year’s 2,273 cases.
The DOH has also reported 13 deaths during this period, up from seven deaths in 2023. The fatalities were recorded in Samar (8), Leyte (2), Eastern Samar (2), and Northern Samar (1).
By province, the breakdown of cases is as follows: Leyte with 2,408 cases (including 260 in Tacloban City); Samar with 1,626; Southern Leyte with 785; Eastern Samar with 542; Northern Samar with 283; and Biliran with 86.
JOEY A. GABIETA
