The number of dengue cases in Bohol in 2018 soared to 5,249, the highest in at least 18 years based on data from the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU) and the Provincial Health Office (PHO).
The figure was higher by a staggering rate of 408 percent compared to the 1,032 cases recorded in 2017.
According to the RESU, 54 died due to the dreaded mosquito-borne disease last year.
Leonidas Saniel, the PHO’s dengue program coordinator, ascribed the sharp increase in the number of dengue cases to lack of vigilance among residents after cases in 2017 dipped to 1,032, which was regarded to be low.
“Ang among na-oberbaran, tungod lagi atong mga previous cases nga ning low ta, labi na tong 2017 nga perting ubosa gyud nato kaayo, mura bag ning kumpyansa ang mga tawo ba,” he said.
Saniel said that the government has been carrying out information campaigns on dengue but claimed that information disseminated by health authorities have fallen on deaf ears.
“Dili bitaw pod pro-active ang huna-huna bah nga anha ra pod molihok kung naa nay case, samot nag naa nay mamatay,” he added.
The RESU in its data for 2018 indicated that it recorded 1,616 cases in 2014; 2,872 in 2015 and 2,878 in 2016.
In previous reports by the Chronicle, the PHO reported 3,590 cases in 2013; 2,404 in 2012; 147 in 2011; 2,700 in 2010; 623 in 2009; 2,102 in 2008; 1,679 in 2007; 231 in 2006; 1,113 in 2005; 283 in 2004; 365 in 2003; 289 in 2002; 712 in 2001; and 70 in 2000.
Department of Health (DOH) 7 medical officer Dr. Ronald Buscato however has noted that the number of dengue cases has been on an uptrend at a national scale.
“Historically, every two years man gud mo-saka ang cases. Actually challenge sad na sa World Health Organization namo nga ‘please try to stop this trend’,” said Buscato in an earlier interview.
He said that “aggressive” measures such as the use of chemicals and misting operations should be implemented to combat the viral disease as 2019 could be the dengue “epidemic year” for the Philippines based on historical trend. (A. Doydora)