Digos City has been placed under a state of calamity due to a dengue outbreak.

Based on a report from the Local Health Board, dengue cases have reached 1,191 from January to September 3, 2024, with nine reported deaths.

Those who died were between two and eight years old.

Among the areas with the most cases are Barangays Zone 1, Zone 3, Aplaya, and Tres de Mayo.

Authorities are more worried about the spike in cases in July and August 2024, reaching nearly 600.

“Kung imong tan-awon, nilampas na gyud siya sa iyang threshold level, sa iya nga barometro ba. Mao to during our board meeting, I suggested na I think we have to declare this an outbreak kay para mosunod dayon ang state of calamity para magamit ang atoang pondo kaning calamity fund to help the patients and also control the dengue para dili na siya modaghan pag-ayo,” City Councilor Ferdinand Canastra said.

With the declaration, the City Council approved and allocated P5.5 million from the Quick Response Fund for the purchase of equipment, kits, medicines, and other supplies that would help fight dengue.

“Ang nauna og abot nga dengue test kits ang naa karon sa atong City Health Office. Kung naay fever sa inyohang mga anak nga mamatikdan, please adto dayon mo sa atoang City Health Office,” Canastra added.

The local government continues to remind the public to destroy possible breeding sites of dengue-carrying mosquitoes.