CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Philippines — The Department of Health has declared Northern Mindanao Region as one of the most affected by dengue in the past five years.
Categorizing the figures in the region as “beyond epidemic threshold”, DOH-10 Regional Director Adriano Suba-an said on Tuesday that this year alone, the region’s report of 15,095 dengue cases from January to August 3, 2019 is alarming.
“This is 62.54% higher compared to the same period last year, with 60 deaths reported,” Suba-an said.
The province of Bukidnon posted the highest number of cases for the year with 6,406 or 42 percent, majority of whom are males (53 percent) with 1 to 10 years old as the common age group.
Cagayan de Oro, the region’s capital city, a total of 1,557 dengue cases were reported, with eight deaths.
Among the city’s 80 barangays, Carmen has the highest number of individuals infected with dengue at 196 with two deaths. In Carmen’s neighborhood of Macanhan, there were 32 reported cases.
Northern Mindanao now counts as among the regions having the highest reported cases of dengue, which include Mimaropa (region 4-B), Western Visayas (region 5), and Central Visayas (region 7).
Suba-an said the DOH and its personnel are directed to engage in a massive nationwide information campaign, give advice, and encourage the general public to follow the “4S” strategy, that is, to search and destroy the mosquito breeding sites; self-protective measures like using of insect repellants daily and wearing of light-colored clothes, long sleeves, and long pants; seek early consultation to the nearest health care facility once signs and symptoms are manifested; and support fogging, spraying, and misting only in hotspot areas where increase in case is registered for two consecutive weeks to prevent and impending outbreak.
“All bureaus, units, hospitals, and attached agencies of the DOH heightened monitoring of dengue cases and provided immediate management and assistance to those afflicted by the disease,” Suba-an said.
“As the lead agency, the DOH shall convene the Health Cluster of the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC) to intensify detection, tracking and monitoring of cases, provide issuances and alert advisories, ensure mobilization and augmentation of needed logistics and provide laboratory response,” Suba-aan added. (davaotoday.com)
