The Department of Health has advised local government units in the Cordillera to recalibrate their response or contingency plans for emerging and reemerging diseases on account of the rapid increase of dengue cases this year compared to previous years.
As of Aug. 1, dengue cases in the region have reached 6,616 according to the DOH-Regional Epidemiological Surveillance Unit compared to 2,187 cases in 2021.
Except for Abra, the rest of the provinces in the Cordillera and Baguio have registered exponential increase in cases.
Baguio, Benguet, and Kalinga have been classified as having reached above the epidemic threshold after registering the biggest jump in cases.
Baguio, which registered 641 cases in 2021 now has 1,232; Benguet with 1,145 cases in 2021 to 2,076 this year, and Kalinga from 64 cases in 2021 to 1,165 this year.
Apayao and Ifugao, on the other hand, are classified above alert threshold. Apayao recorded 21 cases in 2021 and 1,376 this year; Ifugao has 35 cases in 2021 and 524 this year.
Clustering has also been recorded in 216 out of the 1,178 barangays of the Cordillera.
Only Abra recorded a decrease in cases – from 115 in 2021 to 37 this year. Cases in Mountain Province are also on the rise but not yet in the epidemic or alert level thresholds. From the 166 in 2021, cases in the province this year is 206.
To control the breeding sites of dengue-carrying mosquitoes, experts on public health reiterated their appeal to the public to do their part by keeping the surroundings clean.
“It should not only be the DOH but community participation is necessary,” DOH Medical Officer IV Jennifer Joyce Pira said.
She said the government and the community should do their part so that the spread of illnesses like dengue is prevented.
The DOH, along with the municipal health offices, is planning to distribute in schools curtains treated with insecticide. This is one of the measures to protect learners from getting bitten by mosquitoes when schools reopen on Aug. 22.
Pira appealed to the parents and caregivers of learners to do their part by preparing their ward by making them wear clothing that will protect them from mosquito bites and even Covid-19. She said a community that adheres to every individual’s tasks could greatly help in preventing the transmission of various diseases. – Rimaliza A. Opiña
