Mindanaotoday.com | CHO warns of spike in dengue cases
By: Bobby Lagsa
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The City Health Office here on Monday, August 15, has warned residents about the rise of dengue fever cases in the city as the rainy season begins.
Dengue fever viruses are spread to people through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito.
City Health Officer Dr. Rachel Dilla said that number of dengue fever cases in the city has reached 1028 cases from January to August this year.
“This is about 170 percent higher in the same period in 2021 where the city recorded only 378 cases,” Dilla said.
She said that the city’s most populous villages have the highest number of cases with Barangay Carmen having 128 cases this month. Balulang also recorded 59 cases, Patag with 69 cases while Lumbia has 76 cases.
The officer added that between May and June, the city went above its alert threshold level.
“But in July and August, it went down a bit but still higher than in 2021,” Dilla said.
She added that records from 1998 to 2022 showed that Dengue cases in the city rise every two to three years.
Dilla said that the city saw a spike of Dengue cases in 2022, 2017 and 2015.
“We are expecting that the cases will rise this year, that is why early this year, we have been preparing,” she added.
Dengue is deadly but can be avoided
Daisy Zapanta, a resident of Barangay Agusan, shared the nightmare of her life when her only child, a two-year-old son, was infected with dengue.
She said that in July, her son was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit and was later diagnosed with Dengue.
“My son spent two weeks in the ICU, and then another week in the recovery room,” Zapanta said.
She added that they suffered traumatic events as her son clings to his life.
Zapanta said that the mounting hospital bills also added to the burden on her family’s finances with their medical bill reaching half a million pesos.
“We don’t know where my son got the virus, but we are thankful that he is alive and is recovering well,” she said.
Dilla said that dengue could be fatal with at least 10 deaths recorded in the city in 2022.
“Dengue can kill but it can be avoided if we clean the stagnant waters if we all clean our surroundings if we seek their breeding sites,” she said.
Dilla added that dehydration and high fever is what can cause fatality in dengue fever.
“We don’t want this to continue to rise, we need to do our part. We need to practice the 5S – Search and destroy; Self-protection measures; seek early consultation – if your child has a high fever, sick looking, don’t hesitate to go to the health center for dengue screening; Support fogging; Sustain hydration – drink any liquid to fight dehydration,” Dilla said. (MT)
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