More Visayas areas record rise in dengue cases

Dengue is an infection caused by the Aedes aegypti mosquito (above), which triggers a severe flu-like illness often followed by a sharp drop in an infected person’s platelet count. —PNA file photo

TACLOBAN CITY, LEYTE, Philippines — The number of dengue cases in Eastern Visayas has sharply increased in the first eight months of 2024.

The Department of Health (DOH) in the region said it recorded 10,807 dengue cases from Jan. 1 to Aug. 31 this year, or about a 297-percent surge than the 2,723 cases reported over the same period last year.

At least 22 patients died in the first eight months of this year compared to nine fatalities during the same period last year.

READ: Over 10,000 dengue cases, 20 deaths recorded in W. Visayas

The cities and provinces in the region were the latest in the Visayas that had a sharp rise in dengue cases.

The areas in the Visayas that have declared a state of calamity due to dengue cases included the city and province of Iloilo, Ormoc City in Leyte, Calbayog City in Samar, and Bohol.

The DOH Eastern Visayas renewed its call for the public and local governments in the region to intensify clean-up drives to eliminate mosquito breeding sites which are the primary cause of dengue fever.

Fast lanes

“We are also urging hospitals and all health facilities to establish dengue fast lanes, ensure adequate health-care providers and maintain sufficient dengue commodities and medicines to deliver prompt services,” read the DOH advisory dated Sept. 5.

Leyte province, including Tacloban City, recorded the most number of dengue cases with 4,633; followed by Samar, with 2,832; Southern Leyte (1,643); Eastern Samar (893); Northern Samar (576); and Biliran (230).

Samar province has the highest number of dengue-related deaths with 11, followed by Leyte (5), Eastern Samar (3), Northern Samar (2) and Southern Leyte (1). No fatality was recorded in Biliran.

Dengue is an infection caused by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which triggers a severe flu-like illness often followed by a sharp drop in an infected person’s platelet count.

Other symptoms are severe headache, pain behind the eyes, full-body aches, nausea, vomiting, swollen glands or rashes.—Joey Gabieta