Dengue situation in CV: 4,089 cases, 29 deaths

The dengue death toll in Central Visayas continues to rise after the deadly infection recently claimed the life of its 29th victim.

Records from the Department of Health (DOH) 7 as of Tuesday, Feb. 26, reveal that the number of dengue cases for the first 55 days of 2019 has risen to 4,089 from only 3,681 cases last week.

In a press conference Tuesday morning, Dr. Shelbay Blanco, the DOH 7’s Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (Resu) head, said the number of dengue cases in the region from Jan. 1 to Feb. 25, 2019 is 231 percent higher than the number recorded in the same period last year, which was 1,232 cases with five deaths.

The top five localities in Central Visayas with the highest dengue prevalence are Cebu City with 478 cases, Lapu-Lapu City with 390, Mandaue City with 234; Dumaguete City with 148 and Danao City with 93.

Earlier, the DOH recommended the declaration of a dengue outbreak to the local government units of Lapu-Lapu City and Sibonga town in Cebu province; the town of Lazi in Siquijor; and Tagbilaran City, Loon, Trinidad, Cortes, Clarin and Dauis in Bohol.

Blanco urged the public to practice the 4S strategy against dengue: search and destroy mosquito breeding places, take self-protection measures, seek early consultation for fever lasting more than two days, and say no to indiscriminate fogging.