TACLOBAN CITY- Leyte and this city both recorded the highest number of dengue fever cases in the region.
The regional office of the Department of Health (DOH-8) said that as of February 28, Tacloban posted 146 cases while Leyte got 872 cases.
“While dengue (fever) cases are continually scaling up in the region, let us not be complacent. We need to address the root causes of dengue, and practice preventive and precautionary measures all year round to fight this disease,” said Dr.Exuperia Sabalberino, assistant regional health, said in a statement.
“I urge everyone to continue all the efforts and to remain vigilant, sustain the gains of the enhanced 4S strategy to keep dengue away,” she added.
Eastern Visayas has a total of 1,861 cases of dengue fever reported from January 1 to February 22, with five deaths, with a case fatality rate of 0.27%.
The recorded five deaths were from Abuyog, La Paz, Ormoc City, Baybay City and Tacloban, all in Leyte.
This year number of cases are 24% lower compared to the 2,436 cases covering the same period last year.
With the increasing cases of dengue this year, the DOH-8 called on the public to intensify the 4S strategies through search and destroy mosquito-breeding sites, employ self-protection measures, seek early consultation, support fogging/spraying only in hotspots areas where an increase in cases are registered for consecutive weeks to prevent an impending outbreak.(RONALD O.REYES)
