CEBU – The Cebu Provincial Board (PB) has declared a dengue outbreak all over the province, supporting the earlier findings of the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) which saw an abnormal surge in dengue cases.
IPHO chief on public health, Dr. Niño Ismael Pastor said the declaration was based on the data released by the Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (RESU) of the Department of Health (DoH) 7 which showed dengue cases in Cebu increased by 140% year-on-year to 6,808 cases.
Of the 125 dengue deaths, 67 were from Cebu province.
RESU officials though expressed their dismay over the provincial government’s decision to declare an outbreak.
However, Board Member Christopher Baricuatro, who is the chairman of the committee on public health and social services clarified the declaration would only lead local government units to intensify campaigns on dengue prevention and control.
“This is just a declaration that there is a dengue outbreak. This resolution acknowledges the threat of dengue and its purpose is to increase awareness so people will better prepare and control the spread of dengue,” Said Baricuatro.
Baricuatro said the top 10 towns and component cities, according to frequency of dengue cases, are Toledo City Balamban, Carcar City, Liloan, Talisay City, Consolacion, Danao City, San Fernando, Naga City and Cordova based on the records of the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU).
But RESU 7 head Renan Cimafranca said he wants to know the basis of the declaration as he expressed dismay because the declaration of an outbreak means the LGUs have failed in their campaign against the mosquito-borne disease.
(MARS MOSQUEDA)