CHO notes increase in Dengue cases
The City Health Office (CHO) noted an increase in the Dengue fever cases last July. The recorded dengue cases reached to 13 or higher by four cases compared last month.
A report submitted by Dr. Mae Delmo, Medical Officer of the CHO, revealed that the increase in the Dengue cases was noted in the first and second week of July. The report does not include the other patients who sought medical treatment at the Western Visayas State University Medical Center and Saviour International Hospital.
Delmo said the third and fourth weeks of Dengue cases for the month of July were likewise not validated by the health office. It was not immediately known what are the factors that hampered the validation of dengue cases for the third and fourth weeks last month. The report was affirmed by Dr. Urminico Baronda, head of the CHO.
The same report said dengue cases were observed in Barangay Don Esteban Jalandoni, Lapuz. The barangay has more than five recorded dengue cases. The report on the presence of dengue cases was relayed by the barangay official to the CHO.
To address the problem, the health sanitation inspectors made an inspection on the affected barangays and came out with their conclusions. The conclusions include the presence of stagnant water and even plants are used as breeding grounds of dengue-carrying mosquitoes.
The city health officials urged the residents to clean their surroundings in order to control the spread of dengue infection which could lead to deaths when not immediately given attention.
From the period of January to July 2008, the dengue cases in Iloilo City posted 51 cases. The incidence of dengue cases reported in January is 10; February - 9; March - 5; April - 1; May - 4 and June - 9.
The city government would be spearheading dengue information campaign to contain the problems on dengue. Residents are reminded to maintain cleanliness in their own backyard, said Mayor Jerry Treñas.