BACOLOD City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) here urged the City Health Office (CHO) to mobilize the barangay dengue task force in all 61 barangays to come up with their dengue action plan.
This city logged 40 dengue cases from January 12 to 18 this year – 29 percent higher than the 31 cases recorded in the same period last year.
According to Councilor Claudio Jesus Puentevella, chairman of the SP committee on health, the barangay dengue task force is needed to monitor and take the lead in crafting an action plan for the prevention and control of the mosquito-borne disease.
As of January, the barangays with the highest number of cases were Villamonte (six), Mandalagan (five), Tangub (four), and Singcang-Airport and Estefania with three each.
Meanwhile, the province of Negros Occidental recorded notable increase in dengue cases so far this year.
From January 1 to February 1, the Provincial Health Office (PHO) listed 509 cases with three deaths. The figure is 335.04 percent higher compared to 117 cases in the same period last year.
Bago City logged the highest number of cases at 117, followed by San Carlos City with 44, Kabankalan City with 37, Silay City with 26, and Talisay City with 25.
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson called anew for vigilance against dengue.
Health authorities also advised the public to observe cleanliness in the surroundings and continue to practice the 4S strategy.
Dengue is a viral infection transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes, primarily the Aedes aegypti species.
Its symptoms include high fever, severe headaches, pain behind the eyes, joint and muscle pain, rash, and mild bleeding. In severe cases, it can lead to dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome, which can be life-threatening./PN
