MindanaoToday.com | Dengue infections rise in Misor town
By: Uriel Quilinguing
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – An 18-percent increase in dengue cases has been recorded in the first 20 morbidity weeks this year compared to the same period last year in Opol town of Misamis Oriental, just a step from this city.
Thrice, the count of dengue patients surpassed the epidemic threshold levels on weekly basis, as shown on the Opol Municipal Health Office’s surveillance dashboard on Wednesday, May 22.
Medical doctor Emily Grace Banal, the municipal health officer of Opol, gave the green light for online posting of the data on dengue cases, something other municipal health offices in the province have not done.
As of May 18, Saturday, Opol posted a cumulative total 58 cases of dengue since January 1, this year while only 49 for the same period in 2023. All patients of this Aedes mosquito-borne disease the past two years recovered.
Of this year’s total, 41 patients were hospitalized and 16 of them yielded positive results in nonstructural protein 1 test. The NS1 test detected the presence of dengue antigen in the blood specimen.
The village of Malanang logged highest number of dengue cases with 14, followed by neigboring Taboc and Barra with 11 each. Igpit, Patag, Poblacion, Limonda, Bonbon, Tingalan, and Luyong Bonbon also reported dengue infections.
Although 11 years old was the average age of dengue patients, the oldest of the 58 cases was 64 and the youngest was 17 months old.
Early this year, the health department said dengue cases during El Niño season could increase as people are likely to store water which could serve as breeding ground for mosquitoes, although the onset of rains has long been traced to cause spikes of cases.
It renewed calls for community-based 5S strategy implementation against dengue: Search and destroy mosquito breeding sites, self-protection, seek early consultation, say yes to fogging if needed, and stay hydrated. (MT)
###