The Department of Health through the Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (RESU) 7 has recorded 2,921 dengue cases in a span of less than eight months in 2019 amid a nationwide upsurge in cases of the mosquito-borne disease which has pushed the DOH to declare an epidemic.

The number of cases in Bohol surged from 708 in the same period last year to 2,921 this year, marking a whopping 313 percent increase.

In the same data, the RESU said that 27 individuals died due to complications of dengue.

Most of the cases were recorded in Buenavista town which had 289 cases and one death. Sagbayan, Inabanga, Tagbilaran City and Loon followed as the top localities with the most number of cases with 265, 245, 215, and 169 cases, respectively.

Most of those affected by the disease in the entire province were children in the six to 10 age bracket at 24 percent, the RESU said.

According to Provincial Health Office (PHO) chief Dr. Reymoses Cabagnot, Bohol ranked second next to Cebu in having the most number of dengue cases in Central Visayas.

The DOH has earlier recommended for an outbreak to be declared in at least 12 towns in Bohol, but so far only the town of Sagbayan has made the declaration.

“Ang Department of Health ingon man na naa ra pud na nila kung mo deklarar sila og dili. Ang importante kung unsa ilang gihimo na responses, mga kalihukan na makatabng pud og sumpo, kay naay uban hing deklarar kunohay og epidemic sa ilang lungsod pero mura’g way nahitabo,” he said.

Cabagnot said that the PHO has requested for more misting machines which can be used to spray insecticide at areas in towns that may have dengue-carrying mosquitoes.

 “Basin makapalit pa ta og dugang anang mga makinaha, depende na ni ron nig budget hearing og pila g’yud ang aprobrahan. Ako hing suggest ko og walo,” he said.

The PHO previously acquired 11 misting machines to help combat the spread of the disease.

However, these have not been enough to cover the needs of all the towns as Cabagnot noted that the machines are also needed for other purposes such as disinfecting operating rooms and delivery rooms at district hospitals.

The PHO has repeatedly reminded the public that while there have been no other measures suggested by the DOH to combat dengue, individuals should continue to practice the department’s 4S strategy against the dreaded disease which involves searching and destroying mosquito breeding places; securing self-protection; seeking early consultation; and supporting fogging and spraying in hotspot places. (AD)