- City records 65% increase in dengue cases in 2023
DENGUE cases in the city doubled in 2023 compared to the same period the previous year, a City Health Office (CHO) official revealed.
CHO recorded a total of 6,252 confirmed dengue cases in the city from January to December 2023, which is 65.4% higher than the same period in the previous year with only 3,758 cases.
Meanwhile, the mortality rate also increased with 51 deaths recorded in 2023 compared to 21 deaths in 2022.
Melodina Babante, CHO-Tropical Disease Prevention and Control Division coordinator, attributed the increase to the negligence of the community, citing unattended mosquito breeding sites. She added the increase was also due to their intensified monitoring and surveillance.
“Ang amoang surveillance ug monitoring, gipakusgan namo, gi-intensify namo mao nga daghan pud ang mga kaso sa dengue nga nahibaluan nato or naitala nato sa atoang records (We intensified our surveillance and monitoring, which explains why we recorded more cases)” Babante said in an interview on Davao City Disaster Radio’s “Madayaw Davao” program on Dec 27.
Dengue hotspots in the city included Talomo Proper, Bago Galleria, Bago Aplaya, Catalunan Grande, Matina Pangi, Matina Crossing and Matina Aplaya in Talomo Central, Maa, and Barangay 76-A in Talomo North.
Meanwhile, in Bunawan District, Tibungco topped the list followed by Ilang, Bunawan Proper, and Panacan. In Toril, Barangay Lizada, Toril Proper, Sirawan, Lubogan, Baracatan were mentioned as hotspots.
Finally, Tugbok Proper, Tacunan, Mintal, Calinan proper, Marilog Proper, Tamugan, Salaysay were cited as concerned barangays in Marilog District while Paquibato District had Malabog and Paquibato Proper.
“Daghan tag ginabantayan karon na mga barangays, na dili nato kumpyansahan kay ang ulan-ulan, dili man gud ni seasonal ang dengue, whole year round ni sya (We are monitoring numerous barangays now. We can’t afford to be complacent since dengue is not seasonal. It’s whole year round),” she stressed.
“Bisan pa man og init ang panahon, naa gihapoy mga kaso sa dengue tungod ang mga tao nagapundo og tubig labi na sa areas nga dili maayo ang supply sa tubig (There’s also dengue even during hot days since people still store water, especially in areas where supply are scarce),” Babante added.
CHO urged local chief executives to create their own dengue task forces in line with Ordinance No. 0401-20. The ordinance mandates that every barangay must have a Mosquito Board Task Force by 2024.
Individuals who fail to attend or are found to have breeding sites of mosquitoes in their homes shall be penalized as stipulated in the ordinance.
Violators shall be held liable to a fine amounting to P1,000 with a two-day community service for the first offense. For the second offense, offenders shall be fined P3,000 and a four-hour community service; while for the third offense, violators shall be fined a P5,000 and a four-hour community service.
The CHO and City Mayor’s Office are set to conduct a simultaneous cleanup drive in barangays by the first quarter of 2024 every second and fourth Friday of the month. Babante said this is to combat the dengue before it peaks in June.
Davaoeños are also advised to observe 5S: search and destroy breeding sites; seek medical assistance as soon as possible; self-protection measures such as the use of mosquito-repellants; support fogging and misting to avoid outbreaks; and sustain hydration.
