Bacolod City – The Department of Health Western Visayas logged four more dengue related deaths in Region 6, with three in Negros Occidental, bringing the number of fatalities to a total of 63 as of August 20.
A total of 414 new cases were also reported by DOH WV from Aug. 14 to 20, of which 181 new cases were logged in Negros Occidental and 27 cases in highly urbanized Bacolod City.
Negros Occidental has now 3,648, while Bacolod City logged 669 cases, with eight deaths, the report added.
BACOLOD HOT SPOTS
Barangays Mansilingan and Taculing remain as hot spot areas for dengue in Bacolod City.
The barangays with highest number of cases are Mansilingan with 79,Taculing – 51, Estefania – 50, Tangub – 45, Villamonte – 41, Singcang – 40, Alijis – 38, Sum-ag – 35, Mandalagan – 34, Cabug -33, Handumanan – 25 and Bata – 23.
The CHO has conducted coordination meetings with barangay captains, information campaign, fogging operations in Mansilingan and Taculing, as well as in schools and other public places.
4S CAMPAIGN
Provincial Inter Agency Task Force action officer Atty. Rayfrando Diaz recently said that weather is the main reason that contributed to the increase in dengue cases, citing the frequent rains, compared to summer time.
But Diaz said the 4S campaign continues, “We are still challenging that the Provincial Health Office to coordinate with City and Municipal Health Offices to sustain the regular cleaning of surroundings.”
The 4S campaign stands for “Search and Destroy” of mosquito breeding places, “Secure Self Protection” from mosquito bite, “Seek Early Consultation” when signs and symptoms of dengue occur, and “Say Yes to Fogging” as a last resort when there is an impending outbreak.
There is no better way of fighting dengue than applying the 4S, Diaz stressed.
From January 1 to Aug. 20, Western Visayas logged 10,899 cases, an increase of 600 percent compared to 1,557 in the same period the previous year.
Forty percent of the dengue victims are children with ages from one to 10 years old, the report added. (Chrysee Semillano | Gilbert Bayoran via The Visayan Daily Star (TVDS), photo courtesy of TVDS)