BAGUIO CITY– The dreaded Dengue is on a downhill trail after months of being on the rise in the city and region.
This is the content of the disease surveillance report given during the Kapihan at the Department of Health training center last week.
There is however still a 3% regionwide increase as from January 1 to November 26, there were 10,431 suspected cases with 20 deaths, as compared to the same period in 2015, there were 10,123 suspected cases with 12 deaths.
A 62% decrease is seen in Abra, with 1,005 cases in 2015 to 377 cases during the same period in 2016; Apayao has 974 previous cases, now 432, a 56% decrease; Baguio had 1,501 to 2,854, a 90% increase; Benguet with 1,949 to 4,176 cases, a 114% increase; Ifugao with 775 previous cases to 1,067, a 38% increase, Kalinga with 2,409 to 778, a 68% decrease; Mountain Province with 744, now 421 cases, a 43% decrease; Non-CAR cases are 766 to 326 cases, a 57% decrease.
There were also clustering of cases: Alem, Pudtol in Apayao; Bulanao and Bulanao Norte in Tabuk, Kalinga; Balili and Pico in La Trinidad, Benguet; and Camp 7 in Baguio City.
Despite the marked decrease of cases reported, residents are still warned by health authorities to maintain and practice 4-S:
•Search and destroy mosquito breeding places,
•Seek immediate consultation if fever persists with bodily rashes,
•Self-protection measures such as wearing of long pants and long sleeved shirts, and,
•Say Yes to fogging if there is impending outbreak.
Residents are also urged to maintain cleanliness in their residence and community./Julie G. Fianza#
