CEBU CITY -- Dengue cases in Central Visayas have reached more than 3,000 in the first five months of the year.
From January 1 to May 7 this year, a total of 3,177 dengue cases have been recorded in Region 7 which is 287 percent higher compared to the same period last year, the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU) said.
Out of the 3,177 individuals who were infected with dengue, 31 have died or a case fatality rate (CFR) of one percent.
In the same period last year, the region only had 820 cases with four deaths for a CFR of 0.5 percent
According to RESU, the median cases for the age and gender distribution was 34 years old from the patients aged ranging from a month old to 91 years old. Males are commonly affected with 1,673 cases or 52.7 percent.
Areas with high cases of dengue are from Metro Cebu.
Cebu City has the highest number of dengue cases with 708 and 11 fatalities. Lapu-Lapu City came in second with 444 cases and six deaths.
Mandaue City has the third highest cases with 214 and two deaths followed by Talisay City with 177 and two deaths. Minglanilla town has already recorded 138 cases with two deaths.
Health authorities have reminded the public to immediately have themselves checked when experiencing fever.
Symptoms for the mosquito-borne diseases include fever, body malaise, abdominal pain, vomiting and bleeding in severe cases.