Dengue cases in Central Visayas near 8,000-mark

Local

CENTRAL Visayas has already tallied close to 8,000 dengue cases in the first seven months this year.

Health authorities reported 7,567 infections and 16 deaths from January 1 to August 9, based on data from the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU) of Department of Health- Central Visayas (DOH-7).

According to the agency, the case fatality rate (CFR) for the period stands at 0.2 percent. CFR is the percentage of people who die from a disease out of those diagnosed with it.

While the region continues to grapple with new infections, the figure shows a significant improvement compared to the same period in 2024 when 11,360 cases and 33 deaths were documented, translating to a CFR of 0.3 percent.

Overall, this year’s caseload is 33 percent lower.

Patients affected ranged in age from as young as two days old to as old as 94 years.

The median age was 11 years, underscoring how the disease continues to disproportionately impact children.

Males accounted for 53 percent of cases, with 3,997 reported infections, compared to 3,570 cases among females.

The breakdown of cases by age group shows that children aged 5 to 10 years old comprised the largest share at 2,134 cases (28 percent), followed by adolescents aged 11 to 15 years old with 1,526 cases (20 percent).

Infants and toddlers aged four years and below recorded 1,152 cases (15 percent), while 16 to 20 years old accounted for 864 cases (11 percent). Adults aged 21 and above made up 1,911 cases (25 percent).

Among the provinces and highly urbanized cities, Cebu province registered the highest number of dengue cases with 3,640, accounting for nearly half of the regional total.

Bohol followed with 1,902 cases, then Cebu City with 1,376, Lapu-Lapu City with 392, and Mandaue City with 257.

When narrowed down to localities, Talisay City topped the list with 282 cases, followed by Argao with 201 and Danao City with 196.

Other municipalities and cities that recorded high numbers of dengue infections include Talibon (145), Minglanilla (145), Consolacion (143), Naga City (138), Carcar City (135), Dalaguete (133), and Liloan (129).

Based on the DOH 7 monitoring, the current trend of dengue cases showed a slow but noticeable increase earlier in the year.

The number of cases exceeded the alert threshold in morbidity weeks 7 and 8. From morbidity week 2 to week 9, dengue cases also surpassed the levels reported last year.

However, surveillance data showed that after peaking above the threshold during those weeks, the number of new infections began to decline and has since remained below the epidemic threshold in the following weeks.

Out of the 7,567 total cases, 2,281 (30 percent) were laboratory-confirmed, while 2,116 were classified as probable and 3,170 as suspect cases.

To help prevent dengue, the DOH urges residents to follow the “4S” strategy.

The measures include Search and destroy mosquito breeding sites, Seek early consultation when symptoms appear, Self-protection through mosquito repellents and protective clothing, and Say yes to fogging only during outbreaks.(MyTVCebu)