CAPIZ – A dengue outbreak was declared in this province on Thursday, August 15, following an increase in cases.
“Ang declaration sang outbreak na-declare na ina kahapon sang aton nga health board following the recommendation of Dr. Alex Nolasco of the Provincial Health Office (PHO),” Gov. Fredenil Castro confirmed yesterday morning, August 16.
Castro said the province recorded 1,386 dengue cases with three deaths from January 1 to August 10 this year.
“This is 208 percent higher compared to the 450 cases in the same period last year,” he added.
Here is the breakdown of the cases per municipality, including Roxas City: Cuartero (43), Dao (76), Dumalag (64), Dumarao (123), Ivisan (42), Jamindan (25), Maayon (54), Mambusao (113), Pan-ay (57), Panit-an (85), Pilar (28), Pontevedra (50), President Roxas (34), Roxas City (45), Sigma (111), and Tapaz (60).
Gov. Castro is optimistic that the provincial government would be successful in its campaign against dengue through everyone’s cooperation.
“With your support and cooperation, I do not think that we will not come out successful in our campaign against dengue. Karon gani nagapreparar na ako ya nga mag-selebrar, to celebrate our victory against dengue kay because I said, with you around, there is no reason why we are not coming out victorious against our campaign,” the governor added.
Gov. Castro also assured that the provincial government is ready to augment resources to the municipalities.
The provincial government, he said, had purchased fogging machines and others needed to be distributed to areas with dengue cases.
“Outbreak na ta, naglapaw na ta sa threshold. Kontani na ya ang preparedness sag aton DOH (Department of Health), sang aton PHO offices even before nga i-guon kita pareho sang [typhoon] Yolanda nga binuklan anay kita until such time nga magsiling ang authorities, ‘ah, sa madasun preparahan naton.’ This kind of government we have nga wala ya preparasyon, mauli pa nimo ang kabuhi sang napatay, indi na ina mabalik,” Gov. Castro stressed.
The governor also reminded the residents anew to support the campaign against dengue through practicing the 4S strategy: search and destroy mosquito-breeding sites; self-protection measures like wearing trousers and long-sleeved shirts and daily use of mosquito repellent; seek early treatment; and support fogging/spraying only in hotspot areas.
“I believe that there should be a collective effort kay halin ina sa magagmay nga pamilya sa aton kabarangayan pakadto sa pinakamataas nga officials sang aton pamunoan. Kinahanglan everybody should move, everybody should support, and everybody should cooperate,” he said./PN
