Decrease in mosquito-borne diseases observed in 2017

DAVAO City recorded a significant decrease of cases of mosquito borne diseases last year, an official said.

Davao City Health Officer Dr. Josephine Villafuerte in a media interview said the city had much an achievement in terms prevention of mosquito borne diseases in 2017.

“Marami tayong achievements, bumaba ang dengue, kung tutuusin, hindi kailangan mag-vaccinate, kailangan mo lang mag-clear ng breeding sites,” she said.

CHO Tropical Diseases and Control Prevention Division head Beth Banzon said that last 2017, from January to November they recorded only 1,778 dengue cases, which is lower compared to 4,250 recorded in the same period last year.

Villafuerte added that for this year, they also recorded zero cases of filariasis.

“We only need another year to declare Davao City as Filariasis-free,” she said.

As for malaria, Villafuerte said it is already under control.

"Nagtabok-tabok ang cases of malaria from Talaingod, San FernandoBukidnon and Kapalong, nagatabok-tabok sa Davao City ang cases, so nahihirapan tayo magcontrol sa side nila, pero sa other side ma-control natin (The malaria cases cross from Talaingod, San Fernando-Bukidnon, and Kapalong, it crosses to Davao City so we are finding it hard to control (malaria) from their side but we can control it on our side),” she said.

Villafuerte said this is due to the movement of people from one area to another area.

Last September, Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio revealed that the city has recorded zero cases of malaria in Marilog and Paquibato from July 2016 to June 2017.