Dengue cases in Capiz spike by 700 percent

By: Jomarie A. Billones 

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – The Department of Health (DOH) is alarmed by the 700 percent rise in dengue cases in Capiz.

Joeffry Espiritu, Development Management Officer IV and concurrent spokesman of DOH-Capiz, said their latest data showed that 1,136 persons have fallen ill with dengue since January to May 25, 2019, compared to 140 cases in the same period last year.

The data also indicated that Roxas City has the highest number of cases with 234 cases. It was followed by the town of Dao with 132 cases; Panay (120), Pontevedra (118), Pres. Roxas (78), Ivisan (76), Tapaz (55), Dumalag (54), Jamindan and Panit-an (44 each), Cuartero (40) Sigma (35), Mambusao (34), Sapian (29), Dumarao and Pilar (20 each), and Maayon (10).

Espiritu seven persons already died of the infection in Roxas City, and the towns of Dao, Pontevedra, Ivisan and Pres. Roxas.

Most of the victims were children between 1 and 10 years old.

Espiritu urged the public in implementing the ‘4S’ strategy against dengue – Search and Destroy Mosquito Breeding Places; Secure Self-Protection; Seek Early Consultation; Support Fogging or Spraying in the hotspot areas.

Recently, the Provincial Health Office has coordinated with the Department of Education (DepEd), some barangay officials, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippines National Red Cross and the media to tackle the dengue problem and prevent an outbreak.