INCREASING. A health expert urges local government units in Western Visayas on Thursday (July 21, 2022) to reactivate their dengue task forces amid the rising cases of dengue for the first six months of 2022. For the said period, 283 barangays in the region were found to have clustering of cases while eight others were identified as hotspot areas. (Graphics courtesy of DOH FB page)
ILOILO CITY – A health official on Thursday called on local governments in Western Visayas to activate their dengue task forces amid the rising cases in the region.
Dr. Bea Camille Natalaray, Department of Health Infectious Disease Section in the region, said data from the Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit showed that from January 1 to July 9 this year, dengue cases reached 5,837 with 34 deaths.
This translated to a 423 percent increase in cases as the region only posted 1,160 cases with nine deaths in the same period in 2021.
Negros Occidental posted the highest rise at 823 percent with its 2,096 cases compared to the 227 cases for the same period last year.
Cases in Antique increased by 684 percent with 1,591 cases compared with 203 in 2021 while Iloilo province posted a 361 percent jump with 986 cases as against 214 in the previous year.
Natalaray said it is important for municipalities and barangays to reactivate their task forces to carry out the enhanced strategy.
She added that based on their monitoring there are areas whose dengue task forces would be ready for reactivation while other municipalities are preparing to create their teams.
She said mosquito-breeding places must be searched and destroyed, and wearing light-colored clothes and applying insect repellant are advised for self-protection.
“We always emphasize seeking early medical consultation within two days for children suffering from fever. Upon looking at the history of dengue deaths, we saw that most of them were delayed in seeking consultation from hospitals and rural health units,” Natalaray said.
Dengue fast lanes have been put up in hospitals and rural health units.
Eight barangays in Western Visayas were identified as dengue hotspots to include villages Tagda and Nanunga in Hinigaran, Negros Occidental; Badiang and Atabay in San Jose and in Poblacion in Patnongon from Antique; Poblacion South in Oton, Iloilo and Taculing and Mansilingan in Bacolod City.
“Hotspot areas have sustained increase in cases or have clustering of cases and dengue deaths,” Natalaray said, adding that those areas have been advised to conduct medical vector control like spraying and fogging.
Some 283 barangays in the region were found to have a clustering of cases or with three or more cases in the last four weeks. (PNA)
