CEBU CITY - The Regional Director of the Department of Health (DoH) in Central Visayas yesterday said dengue cases in the region has reached an alarming level and an outbreak of the disease could take place if measures are not immediately implemented. DoH 7 Director Susana Madarieta said from January to September of this year, 5,571 dengue cases or 1,229 cases more compared to the same period of last year were recorded in the region. ''Although we have not yet declared any area around the region as having an outbreak of dengue, the situation is very alarming because of the 28 percent increase of dengue cases for this year,'' said Madarieta during the weekly 888 News Forum at the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel yesterday. The DoH 7 Director said fears that a dengue outbreak could happen has prompted the agency to put several areas in the region under the epidemic threshold. She said health authorities are now looking at the dengue hotspots to immediately implement measures that would prevent an outbreak. Madarieta stressed that cleaning up one's surroundings and destroying mosquito breeding grounds, like tires, empty cans, unused toys, and other areas that collect water remain the most effective means of preventing the onset of dengue. Cebu City currently remains the top area with most dengue cases at 1,282 and nine fatalities, followed by Tagbilaran City in Bohol with 363 cases and three fatalities and Lapu-Lapu City with 220 cases. Toledo City has 196 cases with no deaths. ''We have already sent a team to Tagbilaran City to check why dengue cases in the city continues to go up,'' said Madarieta as she also stressed that the DoH is aware of actions undertaken by local government officials in the fight against the mosquito-borne disease.
While the cases of dengue are higher this year compared to the previous year, Madarieta said the number of fatalities has dropped to 32 this year compared to 61 deaths last year. She, however, expects the number of cases to further go up with the onset of the rainy season, although she assured the public that the DoH is closely monitoring the situation and has been implementing anti-dengue measures. ''We have not reached the peak of the cases yet and we are expecting more in the next few days,'' said Madarieta.
