(PNA file photo)
DAVAO CITY – The Department of Health in Davao Region (DOH-11) recorded 8,681 dengue cases with 28 deaths from January to July this year, an official said Friday.
Dr. Annabelle Yumang, the DOH-11 director, said nine of the deaths were recorded in Davao City, followed by Davao del Norte with eight, Davao Oriental with five, Davao del Sur with three, Davao de Oro with two and one in Davao Occidental.
“Before, if it is the rainy season, we think that dengue is rampant, but this time, dengue is all year round. Every month we now have dengue cases,” Yumang told the media during a weekly forum held in a mall here.
Of the total number of patients, Davao City reported the highest with 3,480 cases, followed by Davao de Oro with 1,099, Davao del Norte recorded 1,947, Davao del Sur with 909, Davao Oriental with 831 and 415 reported in Davao Occidental.
“There is an increase in cases. In 2022, we only have 4,559 cases. This time, we are just halfway through the year and we have already doubled our figures in dengue cases,” Yumang added.
However, the regional health office did not provide the number of deaths recorded last year.
She said the cases could be contained with the help of the local government units, particularly in cleanup campaigns focusing on the destruction of mosquito-breeding places.
She also underscored the need to intensify the 4S campaign to further prevent the cases from mounting.
The "4S" strategy includes searching and destroying mosquito breeding places, seeking early consultation, self-protection methods, and support to fogging operations in areas where an increase in cases is registered for two consecutive weeks.
Dengue fever is an illness spread by the bite of an Aedes Aegypti mosquito infected with the virus.
Symptoms include flu-like manifestations but can worsen to severe dengue (dengue hemorrhagic fever), a life-threatening condition. (PNA)
