WHILE Cagayan de Oro City’s dengue cases fell to double digits heading to the last week of October, the City Health Office (CHO) reminded the public to remain vigilant in protecting themselves from the disease.
“Our data showed that as of late October or the 42nd morbidity week, the city logged 55 dengue cases heading to the last few days of the month. Last September we logged 121 cases and in August, about 134 cases. (But due to the rainy season), it remains to be seen (if we can sustain that drop),” said CHO resident epidemiologist Dr. Teodulfo Joselito Retuya Jr.
Dr. Retuya said the city has so far logged 1,282 dengue cases this year along with 11 deaths. Owing to the cyclical pattern of dengue rate incidence increasing every two to three years, Dr. Retuya said 2022 saw Cagayan de Oro City breaching the epidemic threshold in mid-July during the rainy season.
Dengue’s two-year cyclical pattern of increase in cases is evidenced by the triple-digit cases logged by the city as early as last January when it recorded 102 cases compared to 55 cases last January of 2021.
The highest number of dengue cases came in June and July when the city logged 218 and 236 cases respectively compared to 42 and 67 in June and July of 2021, Dr. Retuya said.
“Thankfully our intensified education campaign and collaboration with the barangay officials helped slow down our dengue cases. But since we still logged triple-digit cases (as of last September) this should not cause us to be complacent. (Like Covid-19) we should still work to reduce our dengue cases even further,” Dr. Retuya said.
Dr. Retuya also reminded the public to adopt the government’s 5s strategy in dengue prevention which is to seek and destroy dengue breeding grounds such as stagnant water; self-protection by using insect repellents; seek early consultation at the nearest health center; support fogging, spraying and misting in dengue hotspot areas; and sustain one’s hydration. (Stephen Capillas of City Information Office)
