Fewer Cebu dengue cases January to June

CASES of dengue fever in Cebu province in the first five months of the year decreased by more than half compared with the same period last year.

Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) head, Dr. Cristina Giango told reporters that fewer cases were reported in the first semester.

From January to June 4 this year, the IPHO recorded 468 dengue cases which went down from 1,295 cases in the same period last year.

But Giango warned that cases may rise again with the onset of the rainy season in June.

Residents need to watch out for breeding grounds of the Aedes aegypti mosquito that transmits the virus that causes dengue, Giango said.

Minglanilla tops this year’s list of dengue cases in Cebu province.

Minglanilla formerly ranked third last year with 114 cases.

Giangao recently met with officials from the Department of Education (DepEd) to monitor schools that are prone to dengue cases especially those that have stagnant pools of water.

Giango reminded school authorities to do the appropriate measures to prevent dengue by destroying known and potential breeding areas .

In Monday’s Provincial Board (PB) session, PB Member Sergio Restauro also urged the Department of Health (DOH) to monitor possible breeding grounds of dengue carrying mosquitoes.

The insect breeds in clean, stagnant water.

A RESU Dengue Situatio Report released last week revealed a 17 percent increase in cases from 2011 to 2012 for the months of January to May in Central Visayas.

Topping the 2012 list in Central Visayas is Cebu City with 1,254 cases with 8 deaths.