REGIONAL health authorities have issued an alert to community anti-dengue brigades to step up measures in combating mosquito population as dengue cases have been on the rise. The Department of Health-Central Visayas (DoH-7) has noted an increasing trend, mainly in the cities of cities of Cebu, Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue as well as in Bohol province, where a recommendation for a dengue outbreak declaration has been submitted. From Jan. to Nov. 24 this year, dengue cases in the region grew by 20% to 15,171 from 12,671 in the same period last year this year, according to DOH-7 data. Dr. Shelbay G. Blanco, cluster head of the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit of DOH-7, said the anti-dengue units from the regional level down to the barangays are not lowering their guards, especially on the prevention and monitoring of the disease. “We are not taking things lightly, it’s the very reason we have stepped up our surveillance systems. We are closely coordinating with every local government unit (LGU) and if ever we see increasing dengue cases, we immediately inform and alert these LGUs,” he told The Freeman via text message. Cebu City alone has recorded about 2,660 dengue cases, including 14 deaths, this year. Mr. Blanco also noted that the increasing dengue cases may also be attributed to the improved surveillance system, which is why more patients are recorded and that is why more and more cases are captured in the regular monitoring and reporting. — The Freeman

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