CV records most dengue cases this year

Local

CENTRAL Visayas has recorded the highest number of dengue cases nationwide this year, surpassing all 17 regions with over 30,000 infections.

According to data from the Epidemiology Bureau of the Department of Health (DOH), Central Visayas recorded 33,651 cases from January 1 to November 9, 2024.

This was reported by Dr. Ellaine Nielo of the Philippine Pediatric Society (PDS) Central Visayas Chapter during a roundtable discussion on dengue prevalence in the country held in Cebu City on Wednesday, December 11.

She said that the region surpassed the National Capital Region (NCR), which reported 26,663 cases, and Western Visayas, which recorded 30,569 cases.

Despite its high case count, the data show that Central Visayas has a case fatality rate of 0.16 percent lower than NCR’s 0.18 percent. The region also reported 57 deaths during this period. Meanwhile, Western Visayas recorded the highest dengue-related deaths nationwide, with 66 fatalities.

Other regions with significant dengue cases include the Cordillera Administrative Region with 28,185 cases and 36 deaths, and Northern Mindanao with 21,404 cases and 80 deaths.

Additionally, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao reported 9,949 cases and 45 fatalities, reflecting the variability in the spread and impact of dengue across the country.

In Cebu Province and its highly urbanized cities, a total of 3,298 dengue cases were recorded between October 1 and 31, 2024.

Cebu City accounted for the highest number, with 700 cases, including two deaths. Mandaue City followed with 185 cases, while Lapu-Lapu City recorded 406 cases, both with no fatalities.

Talisay City reported 172 cases, while municipalities like Consolacion (119 cases) and Danao City (172 cases) also contributed significantly to the total. Smaller municipalities such as Alegria, Alcoy, and Malabuyoc reported fewer cases, with no recorded fatalities.

Nielo urged residents to adopt preventive measures such as seeking early medical attention to prevent complications.

Dr. Ronald Limchui, also from PDS, attributed the rise in cases to the public’s hesitancy toward vaccines, a lingering effect of the Dengvaxia controversy.

“Now vaccine hesitancy has not only affected dengue because it affected measles, polio vaccination— that is why in about two or three years we had outbreaks of measles, outbreak of pertussis. This is because people are scared of vaccination already,” he said.

The scare stemmed from reports in 2017 that the dengue vaccine Dengvaxia might cause severe symptoms in individuals who had not previously been infected with the dengue virus.

The resulting public outcry led to the suspension of the vaccination program, legal battles, and a decline in public trust in immunization efforts.

Additionally, Nielo emphasized that efforts to address dengue should be backed by data and scientific research. She urged the public to rely on facts rather than “half-truths.”(MyTVCebu)