by Greg Deligero
THE number of dengue cases monitored by health authorities in Davao City has dropped by more than half as of the end of July compared to figures recorded in the preceding month.
In a report submitted to Mayor Sara Z. Duterte, City Health Officer Josephine J. Villafuerte said the City Epidemiologic Surveillance Unit (Cesu) recorded 157 cases in July, a significant decrease from the 417 cases reported in June.
During the first half of the year, the month of June has the highest number of reported dengue cases with 417, followed by the months of January with 441 cases and February with 373 cases.
Although there is no doubling of cases if compared to the 1,701 cases recorded in January to June 1999, the figures recorded during the first six months of this year—with a total of 1,842 cases—are still higher compared to the average number of cases recorded in a five-year’ period.
From 2006 to 2010, the City Health Office recorded a total of 6,496 cases covering the months of January to June, or an average of 1,299 cases every first half of the year.
In terms of mortality, the total number deaths due to dengue recorded every first half of the year from 2006 to 2010 totalled 78 or an average of 15.6. From January to June this year, the number of deaths totalled 22.
Although higher than the year-to-year average, the number of deaths this year is still lower compared to the 30 total number of deaths recorded in January to June 1999.
Recommendation
Even as the situation already shows significant improvement with the decreased number of cases as of July, Villafuerte still recommended further training for doctors and nurses both from private and public hospitals, specifically on the “update of hospital management of dengue patients.”
“With this training, we are assured that immediate measures will be given to patients, thus, decreasing mortality due to dengue,” she said.
Villafuerte added that the city government will continue “our drive against dengue” in the community level.
Last Wednesday, Mayor Duterte and Villafuerte spearheaded the distribution of more than a hundred treated curtains distributed to public schools in the city in line with the city’s efforts on dengue prevention.
Fibers in the curtains were impregnated with insecticide during production so that it cannot be washed off easily. The curtains will be effective against dengue virus carrying mosquitoes up to five years with high durability.
Beneficiaries of the impregnated curtains were Bolton Elementary School (ES) where the ceremony was held, Biao Guianga ES, Calinan Central ES, Ubalde ES, Jose L Porras ES, Don Julian Rodrigues Sr. ES, Magallanes ES, Mintal ES, Sta. Ana Central ES, Doña Solidad Dolor ES, Matina Central ES, Calinan Villafuerte ES, and Calinan High School.
Each classroom is will have one curtain as a way of preventing dengue-carrying mosquitoes from infecting the students.
