CEBU CITY – Central Visayas remains to be the top region with the most number of dengue cases nationwide.
Dr. Ronald Jarvik Buscato, Medical Officer III of the Department of Health in Central Visayas (DOH-7), told the Philippine News Agency on Wednesday that the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU) has recorded a total of 6,097 dengue cases from January 1 to March 30 this year, with 37 deaths.
Buscato said the current number is very alarming as this is 245 percent higher compared to the 1,768 cases and 12 deaths in the same period of last year.
He said the number of cases in more than 50 local government units (LGU) in Central Visayas has now also reached outbreak level.
“But it is up to the concerned LGUs to declare an outbreak. The DOH’s role is only to recommend it and provide technical assistance,” Buscato said.
Earlier, the Cebu Provincial Health Office recommended to Governor Hilario Davide III to declare a dengue outbreak in the entire province.
However, Buscato said the DOH-7 could not give the same recommendation as cases of dengue in the entire province are clustered in one area.
“Also, on the basis of our epidemiologic computation and formula, declaring an outbreak in the entire Cebu province is yet premature,” he added.
Meanwhile, Buscato said he commends the local governments of Cebu City and Guihulngan, Negros Oriental for immediately using the mosquito-repellent curtains the DOH-7 has earlier distributed to the different LGUs in the region.
The curtains treated with mosquito-repellent chemicals are intended to be used in the schools of LGUs where prevalence of dengue is high.
“It is only but proper for Cebu City to immediately use the curtains considering that it has the most number of dengue cases in Central Visayas,” Buscato said.
Cebu City currently has 741 cases with eight deaths, followed by Lapu-Lapu City with 496 cases, Mandaue City with 311, Dumaguete City with 214, and Danao City with 167. (PNA)
