A Cebu City Medical Center nurse checks on a dengue patient in this CDN file photo. (CDN PHOTO / JUNJIE MENDOZA)
The Department of Education in Central Visayas has recorded as of October 18 a total of 834 dengue cases in 16 school districts.
According to the data presented by the Cebu Schools Division, 11 of the 834 students have died due to the viral disease caused by mosquitoes.
North District 7 has four reported deaths caused by dengue, South District 4 has three, North District 3 has two and one death each in North and South Districts 8.
Barrio Luz Elementary and High School (Day and Night), Camp Lapu-Lapu Elementary School, Agsungot Integrated School and Apas National High School (Day and Night) are schools under North District 7.
Under South District 4, elementary schools in Labangon, Kalunasan and Sibugay Integrated School were affected.
North District 3 includes the Busay Elementary School and North District 8 covers Talamban Elementary School and South District 8 includes San Nicholas Elementary School
Daily clean-up drives and misting in their respective areas were conducted to address the dengue cases.
Cebu Schools Division Superintendent Bianito Dagatan then declared that last Friday, Oct. 21, 2016, be a Division-wide Simultaneous Clean-up Drive.
This was after the Cebu City Council and Cebu Province declared a state of calamity as dengue cases continued to rise.
All schools were given the directive to encourage the parents and the community officials to join in yesterday’s activity.
Meanwhile, City Councilor Joy Augustus Young received information from the City Health Department (CHD) that in Barangay Taptap, there were already 10 cases of dengue and four of which were admitted in the hospital.
CHD and some sanitary inspectors together with School Principal Nenita Nacional checked the Taptap School area.
CHD found out that the source of dengue is from the school where there is a water tank and an “uncovered septic tank.”
CHD said that there are plants like banana, gabi trees, some empty aluminum tin can, temporary canal with stagnant water and gutter at the elementary building.
The department said that they have conducted an environmental survey and search and decided to cover the spring reservoir. Cutting of banana and gabi trees are also advised so as to destroy possible mosquito spots.
The Cebu City Hall also encouraged residents to visit the City Health Department in their respective barangay centers or hospitals for medical check-ups.