THE city government has recorded 649 dengue cases (333 males and 316 females) so far in the Summer Capital, including one death according to Engr. Charles Carame, City Health Services Office (CHSO) sanitation division chief, during a media forum on Sept. 6 at the city hall.
He said the number is significantly lower than the 2,328 cases recorded during the same period last year.
Carame disclosed that this year’s top five barangays with the most dengue cases are Irisan, Camp 7, Bakakeng Central, San Vicente, and Asin Road.
“Compared to the same period last year, dengue cases in the city this year have decreased, but unfortunately meron pa rin brought about by the rain where cases usually increase during the rainy season,” he said.
Dengue is a highly endemic infectious disease caused by any of the four serotypes of the dengue virus and is transmitted to humans through the female Aedes mosquitoes whose most common symptoms are high fever, headache, body aches, nausea, and rash.
“As in all or most other diseases, prevention is still the key. One way of prevention is through sanitation and hygiene, not only for ourselves but also for our environment. As they say, ‘Cleanliness is next to Godliness’’,” Carame stressed.
For his part, Dr. Nelson Hora, CHSO medical officer IV, said that his office is always ready to help the public in addressing their health needs, “hanggang sa makakaya namin.”
Earlier, Mayor Benjamin Magalong reminded residents anew to abide by the “Tapat Mo, Linis Mo” ordinance by keeping their surroundings clean, especially with dengue still posing a threat to the city.
“Everyone should contribute to keeping our city clean and not just rely on the government to do the cleaning for them,” he said.
The city has also adopted the Department of Health’s (DOH) annual anti-dengue campaign that includes the ‘4 o’clock habit’ which entails dropping whatever one is doing and shifting the focus to searching and destroying mosquito breeding places such as stagnant water, clearing corners of unused containers, receptacles, bottles, tires, piles of leaves and other accumulated wastes. – Gaby B. Keith
