ILOILO, (PNA) — Cases of dengue fever in this province showed a downtrend in the past three months although the mosquito-borne disease remains a major health concern.
This as dengue cases from January to Oct. 5 this year is more than 90 percent higher compared to the same period in 2012.
Dr. Patricia Grace Trabado, provincial health officer, said that from as high as 470 cases on the 28th morbidity week (July 7-13, 2013), the number tremendously declined to only 31 cases on the 40th morbidity week (Sept. 29-Oct. 5, 2013).
“May this momentum continue until no one will ever suffer of dengue,” Trabado said as he reminded the public to remain vigilant and responsible.
She also said that everybody must remain aggressive, especially in destroying the breeding grounds of mosquitoes to prevent the surge of dengue in their community.
Meanwhile, Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. warned the public not to be complacent of the good news since dengue is a reoccurring health problem and cases are still higher this year.
The governor also urged Ilonggos to seek early treatment once symptoms of dengue, such as high fever for three consecutive days, emerge.
Records showed that 5,927 dengue cases with 24 fatalities have been reported from Jan. 1 to Oct. 5 this year.
The figure is 91.69 percent higher compared to the same period last year – 3,092 cases with 31 fatalities.
The towns with the most number of dengue cases are Janiuay (628 cases with one death), Cabatuan (380 cases with four deaths), Pavia (363 cases with one death), Santa Barbara (350 cases with three deaths), and Miagao (322 cases with two deaths).
In Miagao alone, seven villages remained dengue hotspots after a clustering of three or more cases in four consecutive weeks.
Children aged one to 10 are still severely affected by dengue (3,275 cases) and those from aged 11 to 20 (1,916 cases).
Dengue is caused by daylight-biting mosquitoes Aedes aegypti that live and breed in clear, stagnant waters.