NorMin among regions with high dengue cases in PH

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Northern Mindanao has consistently registered a high number of dengue cases in the last five years, an official of the Department of Health-Region 10 (DOH-10) said.

DOH-10 Director Adriano Suba-an said the regions that also have the highest reported dengue cases include Mimaropa (Region 4-B), Western Visayas (Region 5), and Central Visayas (Region 7), and Region 10.

In a press conference Tuesday, Suba-an said for this year alone, Northern Mindanao's dengue cases have exceeded the epidemic threshold.

“This is 62.54 percent higher compared to the same period last year, with 60 deaths reported,” Suba-an said, referring to the 5,095 dengue cases in the region from January to August 3 this year.

The DOH data showed that Bukidnon has the highest number of cases among the region's five provinces, with 6,406 or 42 percent of the total cases.

Cagayan de Oro, the region’s capital city, recorded a total of 1,557 dengue cases in the same period, with eight deaths.

“All bureaus, units, hospitals, and attached agencies of the DOH heightened monitoring of dengue cases and provided immediate management and assistance to those afflicted by the disease,” Suba-an said.

He said the DOH has been directed to engage in a nationwide information campaign for the massive adoption of the “4S” strategy.

4S means search and destroy the mosquito breeding sites; self-protective measures such as using insect repellants daily and wearing of light-colored clothes, long sleeves, and long pants; seek early consultation to the nearest health care facility once signs and symptoms are manifested; and support fogging, spraying, and misting only in hotspot areas where increase in case is registered for two consecutive weeks to prevent an impending outbreak.

“As the lead agency, the DOH shall convene the Health Cluster of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC) to intensify detection, tracking and monitoring of cases, provide issuances and alert advisories, ensure mobilization and augmentation of needed logistics and provide laboratory response,” Suba-an said. (PNA)