25.4% rise in dengue cases in C. Visayas; Cebu city on top

THE Department of Health (DOH-7) directed all the hospitals in the region to revive dengue “fast lanes”  to respond to confirmed and suspected dengue cases.

Central Visayas showed an increase of 25.4 percent in the number of cases from January to September 2015 compared to year-ago levels, said Dr. Jonathan Niel Erasmo, DOH-7 dengue program coordinator.

There were 5,099 cases and 25 deaths recorded in the nine month period this year while DOH-7 a lesser volume of 4,067 cases and 18 deaths a year ago.

Health Secretary Janette Garin issued a memo to reactivate the dengue program.

Hospitals are required to set aside  priority beds for dengue cases based on projections over three to five years.

“Aside from the admitting physicians, there are also focal persons and medical coordinator in the hospitals specifically for the dengue,” said Erasmo.

MONITORED

Base on DOH-7 records, Cebu City still tops the list of top 20 municipalities and cities in the region with the most dengue cases and deaths from January to September 2015.

It was the same trend in 2014, as Cebu city is the largest urban area of the region.

At least  789 cases and 3 deaths were recorded in Cebu City by the DOH followed by Lapu Lapu City  with 212 cases and one death.

Last year, Lapu-Lapu City had fewer cases or 204 for the period January to September.

“We are also closely monitoring Cebu City because cases might increase,” said Reynan Cimafranca, chief for Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (RESU-7).

No part of Cebu has been declared the site of a  dengue outbreak.

Guihulngan City in Negros Oriential has been experiencing one for several weeks.

From January to September 2015, Guihulngan City had 168 dengue cases and no deaths recorded. At present, it ranks fourth in the region.

“We only declare an outbreak if there is an unusual increase of cases and comparison of cases for the past years,” said Cimafranca.