By Angeline Valencia
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Aug. 23 (PNA) — Dengue outbreak now haunts the municipality of Sagbayan, accumulating 98 cases in the last 45 days with one death added on August 19.
Provincial health officer, Dr. Reymoses Cabagnot, confirmed that the Municipal Health Office in Sagbayan had to declare dengue outbreak in the town as dengue cases continue to increase.
In fact, the latest dengue patient to die from dengue was a 34-year-old resident of barangay San Antonio, Sagbayan, identified as Allyn Bajo.
According to Cabagnot, barangay Poblacion has the most number of dengue cases in Sagbayan, contributing 70 cases to the record.
Dengue surveillance team noted the spread of dengue to the adjacent barangays from Poblacion.
The provincial health officer said it is also alarming that deaths from dengue already reached four this year.
From 466 as of July 4, dengue cases rapidly increased to 585 as of July 25 and now around 800, Cabagnot said.
Lack of blood supply added to the problem as some patients have to scout for blood donors on their own.
Cabagnot said Gov. Edgar Chatto already ordered aggressive campaign against dengue, considering the outbreak even if there had been only around 800 cases since January in the entire province.
Of the three missing machines that the province has, two are utilized in the ongoing misting operations in Sagbayan to stop the life cycle of mosquitoes.
Cabagnot also reminded the public to continue observing the “4 S” campaign of the Department of Health which stands for Search and Destroy–the search, Special Protective Equipment–the use of mosquito nets and insect repellants; Seek early medical consultation – in the maximum of two days of your fever, medical consultation is a must; Say “NO” to indiscriminate fogging.
He said the use of fogging is not advisable for it only kills the adult mosquitoes and not the eggs.
For his part, Provincial Schools Division officials ordered all public school teachers to conduct clean-up drive everyday to prevent any portion of the schools to become breeding grounds of mosquitoes in the light of the dengue outbreak in Sagbayan.
According to Desiderio Deligero, chief of the Schools Governance and Operations Division of Dep-Ed-Bohol, almost all schools in Sagbayan are now affected by the dengue outbreak.
Deligero cited Sagbayan Central Elementary School, San Agustin High School, Canmano Elementary School, Canmaya Sentro, and San Antonio Elementary School.
DepEd officials are now coordinating with the Municipal Health Office in undertaking measures to control the spread of dengue virus through the mosquitoes.
School officials participated in the distribution of mosquito nets provided by the local government unit and ABATE insecticidal provided by the Rotary Club of Cebu.
DepEd also intensified dissemination of advocacy materials on preventing dengue infection.
Aside from Sagbayan, officials also reported recent dengue cases in Clarin, Catigbian, and Jagna.(PNA)