A spike in dengue cases has been reported in areas outside of Metro Manila beginning in July 2024.
Ormoc City in the Province of Leyte declared a state of calamity on August 8, 2024 after its City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU) logged 444 cases from January 1, 2024 to August 3, 2024, or 225 percent higher, compared to the 137 cases last year on the same period.
In Bicol Region, dengue cases have risen by 40 percent in 2024 compared to last year, according to the Department of Health (DOH) Bicol.
From January 1 to July 13, 2023, Bicol reported 512 dengue cases. During the same period this 2024, the number of cases has increased to 715.
As of July 13, 2024, Camarines Sur recorded 248 cases, Camarines Norte with 170 cases, Catanduanes, 121 cases; Albay, 67 cases; Sorsogon, 62 cases, and Masbate with 43 cases.
Other local government units (LGUs) outside of Manila that declared a state of calamity are Passi City and Tigbauan town in Iloilo Province in Western Visayas after rising cases of dengue was registered. However, the data from Tigbauan are still on the process of consolidation.
Dengue hemorrhagic fever has claimed the life of three persons in Iloilo City in 2024. The latest casualty is a woman from the district of Jaro.
In a report on August 15, 2024, the 28-year-old woman is the third to succumb to dengue this year as confirmed by the Iloilo City Health Office (CHO).
Iloilo City, as of posting time, has recorded 649 dengue cases, 42 of which are active cases.
Other area in Panay Island on a dengue outbreak is Oton town (Iloilo Province). Oton logged 223 dengue cases.
Oton is second on the list of LGUs in Iloilo Province with the most number of dengue cases. Based on data of the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO), the cases reached 223 from January 1, 2024 to August 10, 2024.
Passi City has topped the list with 343 cases from January to August 2024.
Meanwhile, in Mindanao, at least 21 people have died from dengue in Misamis Oriental as of January to July 28, 2024 with the province seeing a rise in the number of cases.
According to the Misamis Oriental Provincial Health Office (PHO), the number of cases reached 2,065 as of July 28, 2024.
The town of Claveria has the most cases with 262, followed by Gingoog City with 210, and Tagoloan with 182, according to the Regional Epidemiology Surveillance and Disaster Response Unit (RESDRU) of the Department of Health-Northern Mindanao (DOH 10).
The number of dengue cases in Tagum City, Davao del Norte has gone up with three reported deaths, so far, in 2024. From January to July 2024, dengue cases have reached 933.
THE 4S CAMPAIGN
The LGUs have reinforced, through their respective anti-dengue task force, the 4S in dealing with the outbreak.
The 4S anti-dengue campaign stands for (1) Search and destroy mosquito breeding places, (2) Secure self protection from mosquito bite, (3) Seek early consultation when signs and symptoms of dengue occur, and (4) Say yes to fogging as a last resort when there is an impending outbreak.
(via GMA Regional TV Bicolandia, Balitang Bisdak, One Western Visayas, One Mindanao)
