By Restituto Cayubit
PALO, Leyte - Dengue cases in Eastern Visayas continued to rise, the Department of Health (DOH) Regional Office reported.
Minerva P. Molon, DOH regional director, said the number of cases spiked in just eight days this month. From 4,809 dengue cases with 19 deaths in July 11, it jumped to 5,577 with 23 deaths in July 16 and to 6,315 cases with 24 deaths in July 19.
Department of Health (MANILA BULLETIN)
Molon called for community participation and cooperation to neutralize the surging dengue cases.
Molon has reminded the public, emphasized the importance and the effectiveness of the 4S strategy in controlling the spread of the disease.
4S stands for : Self-protection measures must be observed or employed like the use of mosquito repellent, the wearing of long-sleeved shirts or long pants and the use of mosquito nets while sleeping in day time as the dengue mosquitoes are day-biting; Search and destroy mosquito breeding sites inside and outside the homes; Seek early consultation; and Support fogging/spraying only in hotspot areas wherein the increase of dengue cases has been observed or registered for two consecutive weeks.
Molon said her office is closely monitoring the upsurge of dengue particularly in the provinces of Northern Samar, (Western) Samar and Leyte.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Leyte declared a state of calamity Friday in response to the dengue upsurge in the province.
Leyte Vice Gov. Carlo P. Loreto said the provincial council approved the resolution declaring the state of calamity on the request of the Gov. Leopoldo Dominico L. Petilla.
As of Friday, dengue has claimed the lives of one patient each in the towns of Burauen, Babatngon, Mahaplag, and Merida, and one each in the cities of Baybay and Ormoc, all in Leyte.
DOH also reported five fatalities in Tacloban City.
In the province of Eastern Samar, Guiuan town has four deaths; and one each in the towns of: Hernani, General MacArthur and Quinapondan.
One death was reported each in the towns of Sogod and Macrohon both in Southern Leyte; in the town of Kawayan in the province of Biliran; and in the cities of Catbalogan and Calbayog, in Samar province.