Dengue cases drop in October

Cebu City Health Department notes only one dengue case this month, but advises protection

WITH the efforts to prevent dengue, the Cebu City Health Department (CHD) noted a decrease of new cases this month.

In a debriefing with other department heads at City Hall yesterday, CHD chief Dr. Daisy Villa clarified that there is only one dengue case recorded in October.

In an earlier report, Villa said there were 24 new cases of dengue in the city since the month of October started. However, when she went over the records, they was still included in the cases in the previous month.

“We only have one dengue case for this month, so far. The other cases were from September. Usually, the other private hospitals submit their records late,” she said.

There are now 892 dengue cases since January this year, the latest case came from Barangay Lahug.

Eleven people have so far died because of dengue.

Villa said dengue cases dropped because of the series of preventive measures that the City conducted in coordination with the barangays.

Prevention

Last week, the City conducted a massive larvicidal activity in 49 barangays to kill larvae before they become adult mosquitoes.

Villa said larvicidal uses chemicals that are placed in areas where dengue-- carrying mosquitoes may breed, such as canals and containers, as one of the move to combat dengue.

The chemicals can stay effective for up to four months in stagnant waters.

“Na- contain na nato ang pag- develop sa mga lamok, pero angay gihapon nga di mo-kompyansa, mang-limpyo gihapon unta sila unya i-maintain na gyod na (We were able to contain the mosquitoes, but we shouldn’t be complacent, we should keep cleaning and maintain that),” Villa said.

Cleaning

CHD encourages the public to continue cleaning their own surroundings to prevent mosquitoes from laying their eggs, which will eventually develop and carry the virus.

Early detection of the illness also contributed to the decrease, Villa said.

Since they opened their seven satellite laboratories in the barangays, the public has been responsive in seeking medical attention when they experienced fever, a symptom usually felt when one has dengue.

Despite the decrease, Villa said, the CHD will continue misting operations and curtain impregnation in barangays, particularly those with higher dengue cases in previous months.

Misting operation and curtain impregnation are two ways to kill adult mosquitoes.