Dengue Cases in CenVis Drop to 81 Percent

●Cleanliness and sanitation are the main reason behind the massive decline of dengue cases on the first quarter of 2014.

The Department of Health (DOH)-7 on Tuesday urged the public to maintain cleanliness and sanitation as these are the main reason on the massive decline of dengue cases on the first quarter of 2014.

During the Association of Government Information Officers (AGIO) Forum hosted by Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-7 and DYMR Radyo nga Bayan Cebu, Dr. Jaime Bernadas, the DOH-7 Regional Director Jaime Bernadas said that from January 1 to May 17 this year, there were only 1,150 dengue cases with 5 deaths reported from the different diseases reporting units (DRUs) in the region.

“Kining maong pagkibra sa kaso sa dengue may 81.7 porsento ang gidak-on itandi sa susamang periodo sa miaging tuig”. Bernadas said.

Bernadas said that based on the their record, there were 6,294 dengue cases with 21 deaths last year on ages ranged from 1 month to 87 years old.

The DOH regional chief also said that majority of the case were mostly coming from Cebu City which represented 18.9 percent of the cases, followed by Lapu-lapu City, 10.8 percent, Dumaguete City, 8.6 per cent, Minglanilla, 3.4 percent and Sibulan, 3.4 percent.

Bernadas claimed that the adoption of Action Barangay Kontra Dengue campaign has also played a big role in the sudden drop of dengue cases here in the region.

Meanwhile Dr.Ramon Najaro, Chairman on the Department of Pediatrics at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) said that although this is a good development as far as dengue cases are concerned, he appealed to the public to continue the habit of cleaning the surroundings.

“Let us not be complacent with this development but we have to continue the good habit of destroying all possible areas where dengue mosquitoes laid eggs”, Najaro said.

He added that by cleaning and clearing the surroundings of plastic containers, truck tires or anything which cope stagnant water, the dropping of dengue cases here in the region will be maintained.

Najaro also discussed some of the experiments they have adopted in coping dengue virus. He explained that applying liquids, either clean potabe water to be taken by the patient or a dextrozed type of liquid material to be injected into the patient’s body, is enough to contain the effect of dengue virus.

He said that this is the way they managed dengue patients at VSMMC and other hospitals in the region in relation to their massive dengue prevention campaign.

Jonathan Neil Erasmo, Program Coordinator of the DOH-7 Dengue Control Program, also sounded the same announcement that cleanliness and sanitation are the process which are normally practiced in all areas that made people aware on the danger of dengue virus.