MAASIN CITY – The city recorded a total of 668 dengue cases, with 320 affecting females and 348 males, as of October 3, 2024.
The surge in cases overwhelmed local hospitals, as they struggled to accommodate the high number of patients. “There simply weren’t enough beds and facilities at that time due to the influx of patients,” according to Ada Madeline B. Bule, a Medical Technologist from the City Health Office.
Dengue cases in Brgy. Asuncion initially surged, making it the top hotspot in the area, Bule added. The barangay recorded the highest number of dengue cases from January to July this year. However, the trend began to slow down in Asuncion as other barangays reported increasing cases after the city declared a state of calamity.
“From January to July, Asuncion was the top barangay for dengue cases, especially around July when the numbers peaked. But after the declaration of a state of calamity, the cases in Asuncion started to slow down, while other barangays began to contribute to the overall case count,” said Bule.
During this period, children in elementary and high schools were particularly affected, with the 5-9 age group being the most vulnerable, accumulating a total of 175 cases from this age group.
Bule highlighted the need for a collaborative approach to combat dengue. “Addressing dengue is not just the responsibility of the local government units (LGUs); it requires the active participation of the community as well. The LGUs have been conducting fogging operations and awareness campaigns, but it’s the households that must also take action by cleaning their surroundings and eliminating mosquito breeding sites. Without that, fogging efforts alone cannot be effective.”
She emphasized that measures such as the search-and-destroy strategy, seeking early consultation, self-protection, and consistent community efforts are vital to managing and preventing outbreaks. (AVista)