CEBU CITY, Philippines – The number of dengue cases in Central Visayas rose to 4,019 from January to July 7 this year, up 64.6 percent from 2,441 recorded during the same period last year, the Department of Health (DOH) in Region 7 said.
Cebu City accounted for nearly half of the cases and the most number of deaths in the region.
In a report by the Regional Epidemiological Surveillance Unit (RESU), based on the records of government hospitals and other units, the region tallied 25 deaths due to dengue from Jan. 1 to July 7, 2012, compared with 16 during the same period last year.
The patients were as young as one-month old and as old as 87 years. Most of the patients were below six years old.
Dengue is caused by a virus transmitted by carrier mosquitoes that breed in clean, stagnant water.
Patients afflicted with dengue show symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, body and joint pains, nausea, vomiting, and rashes.
The RESU noted that the most number of cases were from Cebu City with a total of 1,858 cases and 11 deaths, or 45.5 percent of the total number of dengue cases in the region.
Lapu-Lapu City had three deaths, the second highest in the region, and 167 patients.
Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental province had the second highest number of cases with 247 and one death, while Minglanilla town in Cebu xame third with 198 cases and one death.
The other towns and cities in the top 10 list are Talisay City, Liloan town, Mandaue City, Toledo City and Consolacion town in Cebu, as well as Bayawan City in Negros Oriental.
Health officials, through its anti-dengue campaign advocacy, urged the public to get rid of breeding places for mosquitoes that include unused flower vases, discarded tires and water dispensers, among others.
source: interaksyon.com
