Bohol Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado has issued an Executive Order seeking to ramp up the province’s campaign against the spread of dengue.(Photo from Bohol PIO)
CEBU CITY–A dengue outbreak has been declared in Bohol Province, where at least 20 deaths linked to the mosquito-borne disease have been recorded for the past weeks.
With this, Bohol Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado issued an Executive Order (EO), directing all local government units (LGUs) in the province to ramp up efforts to prevent the disease from spreading further .
Aumentado also ordered to strengthen the monitoring and treatment of patients.
The Bohol Provincial Health Office (BPHO) reported that as of Aug. 22, 1,883 dengue cases have been reported. The figures are seven percent higher compared to the same period last year.
Provincial officials expressed concerns over the increasing fatalities.
Dr. Fruserma Mary Uy, head of the Bohol Provincial Health Office, said that while the number of cases is almost the same as last year, the number of deaths has increased significantly.
The total number of deaths is 1.17 percent higher compared to the same period last year, exceeding the Department of Health’s acceptable level of below one percent.
“Hopefully, it won’t increase any longer,” Uy said.
In Aumentado’s EO, LGUs were ordered to intensify the implementation of the 4S strategy against dengue, reactivate their local dengue task forces and conduct community-based activities aimed at eliminating mosquito breeding areas.
Hospitals and city and municipal health offices were also directed to establish Dengue Fast Lanes to help speed up consultation and treatment.
Niel John Oclarit, development management officer IV of the Provincial Department of Health Office-Bohol, said 12 of Bohol’s 48 LGUs have exceeded the dengue epidemic threshold for three consecutive weeks.
Talibon logged the highest number of cases with 188, followed by Tagbilaran City with 172 and Ubay with 146.
Getafe recorded 108 cases, while Tubigon had 99.
Talibon also recorded the highest fatalities five followed by Tubigon with three. Getafe and Ubay each recorded two deaths.