BOHOL recorded 199 dengue cases this year for the 5th Morbidity Week from January 29 to February 4, 2023.
According to data provided by the Provincial Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit under the Provincial Health Office (PHO) of Bohol, this year records a 49.6% uptick in dengue cases compared to last year’s 133. Ages susceptible to dengue range from 0-80, with 12 years as the median age. The male population has the highest number of recorded dengue cases (55.28%) compared to their female counterparts, with the 5-10 age group being the most affected by Dengue.
The PHO identified Talibon as the municipality with the highest number of cases, with 35 (17.59%), followed by 16 from both Clarin and Tagbilaran (8.04%), Candijay with 10 (5.03%), and Inabanga with eight cases (4.02%). The Provincial Dengue Program coordinator Leonidas Saniel explains that they are closely coordinating with Rural Health Units by amplifying the National Dengue Prevention and Control Program and the “4S Strategy” of DOH. The 4s strategies are: 1) search and destroy mosquito-breeding sites, 2) self-protect, 3) seek early consultation with the nearest health center, and 4) support fogging or spraying indoors and outdoors to prevent impending outbreaks.
Saniel encourages more municipalities to adopt more strategies against the virus, including intensive IECs amongst barangays, weekly surveillance activities by purok dengue task forces, lobbying for support from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), encouraging community vigilance, and mobilizing search and destroy programs.
As of February 2023, PHO started their entomological surveillance for LGUs with high dengue cases to identify areas at risk of outbreaks. (PiMO/GMC)
