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Dr. Ronald Jarvik Buscato, coordinator of the DOH-7 dengue fever program, said the areas had already "exceeded the epidemic thresholds of dengue cases" and that their local governments should declare an outbreak.
The cities of Lapu-Lapu and Sibonga, in Cebu Province, have exceeded epidemic thresholds; The city of Tagbilaran and the cities of Trinidad, Cortes, Dauis, Clarin and Loon in the province of Bohol; and the city of Siquijor province in Lazi.
According to the World Health Organization, an "epidemic threshold" is the critical number or density of susceptible hosts likely to trigger an epidemic. The epidemic threshold is used to confirm the occurrence of an epidemic in order to reinforce the appropriate control measures.
Another factor to consider for an outbreak is whether the average number of cases over the past five years has increased by 10%, Buscato explained.
Cebu-based DOH-7 regional office sent notices and letters of recommendation to the cities concerned. The local governments concerned will declare an outbreak based on the DOH recommendation.
In the data collected by the Regional Epidemiological Surveillance Unit from January 1 to February 9, Central Visayas recorded 3,076 cases and 24 deaths from dengue fever.
Statistics are 215% higher than the same period in 2018.
The majority of cases in the region were in Cebu with 390 cases, including three deaths. The densely populated city, however, was not among those beyond their epidemic thresholds.
Buscato said that they could include the city of Cebu if the number of cases continues to increase.
The city of Lapu-Lapu in Cebu Province came in second with 299 cases and one death. The city of Mandaue was third with 152 cases and one death.
On the other hand, the city of Tagbilaran in Bohol also has 52 cases and two deaths.
Buscato said the DOH-7 was integrating the campaign against measles and dengue in the region. This means that they would include dengue in the door-to-door campaign to fight measles.
While the government is currently focusing on measles, Buscato said the public should not forget that dengue fever is as dangerous as measles.
Buscato said the outbreak of dengue cases in January was a surprise, as they expected an increase in the number of cases in March or April.
The last dengue fever outbreak in the central Visayas dates from 2016 and began in April, he added.
"It's actually quite early," Buscato said.
https: //newsinfo.inquirer.net/1086127/doh-wants-dengue-outbreak-declared …
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