The
number of dengue cases in the Davao Region has increased from 5,900 in 2012 to
6,937 as of August 3, 2013 prompting the Department of Health (DOH) XI to
intensify its campaign versus dengue.
“We
may have a higher rate of dengue this year but we have less mortality this year
compared to the previous year,” DOH Health Advocacy and Promotion Cluster
officer-in-charge Divine Hilario said during Monday’s Kapihan held at SM City
Annex.
A
total of 63 persons died from dengue last year but this was reduced to only 47
this year, Hilario said.
Dengue
is still on top of the Department’s priority list and they are intensifying
their campaign again dengue. They have also enhanced the 4 o’clock habit to encourage
people to clean their surroundings.
“It
should not be taken literally that people should clean only when the clock
strike but this is just a reminder to the people keep their surroundings
clean,” she said.
Almost
50 percent of this year’s dengue cases were reported in Davao City with 3,822
cases and 23 dead. Like the past years, she said, Buhangin is still a hotspot
maybe because it has a larger area of coverage.
Hilario
said the following dengue cases were also reported: Davao del Sur with 932
cases and 12 dead, Compostela Valley with 846 cases and 7 dead, Davao Oriental
with 736 with 2 dead and in Davao del Norte with 601 cases with 3 dead.
She
said that while dengue and chikungunya are both mosquito-borne illnesses,
people should watch out for dengue as it is more deadly. Both illnesses have
the same vector mosquito and have the same symptoms though, she added.
