Dengue, the mosquito-borne disease, has hit alarming levels in Bohol.  Authorities have pushed the alarm buttons after the Department of Health confirmed the outbreak of the disease in two city barangays—Cogon and Dao. As of last count, the DOH reported that dengue cases since January this year already hit past the 500 mark.

At least 10 fatalities were already confirmed.

 In a press conference last week, Dr. Reymoses Cabagnot, Bohol provincial health officer said fast lanes will be set up in Bohol's 11 district hospitals to decongest the city hospitals. Under the fast lane arrangement, patients with fever and suspected of having dengue can be given emergency treatment The blood sam0le is obtained to establish a baseline data. In Tagbilaran City, dengue patients can avail of the express lane to provide emergency treatment especially those coming from the towns. With the upsurge in dengue cases, there was a time last week that all the city's private hospitals were fully booked of patients afflicted with the dreaded disease.  During the same press confab called for the purpose of assessing the dengue outbreak, Dr. Susanna Madarieta, Department of Health (DOH) Central Visayas regional director, was in attendance. It will be recalled that the DOH has taken an active role following the dramatic increase in the number of dengue cases not only in Bohol but in different parts of the country. Madarieta was in Bohol to help assess the situation and to expand the campaign against the mosquito-borne disease that is endemic in the Province.

Cabagnot revealed that since January this year, there have been a total of 512 cases mostly involving children. This number is more than twice the 268 cases reported for the entire year last year. The figures can go higher because the count is based only on those reported by the hospitals. He also disclosed that there have been 10 deaths blamed on dengue this year. Tagbilaran City accounted for the most number of cases followed by the towns of Dauis and Jagna. Cabagnot said Tagbilaran accounted for 142 cases of the Bohol total. The DOH has declared Tagbilaran, Dauis and Jagna as dengue hot spots. In response to this, the DOH has declared an outbreak in two city barangays namely Cogon and Dao. This was based on the recommendation of Dr. Antonio Porticos, city health officer. There have been 54 cases reported in Cogon and 48 in Dao. The Tagbilaran City Health Office has conducted massive fogging operations near schools as part of the intensive campaign against dengue. As this developed, hospitals based in the city have started refusing admissions for dengue patients due to over-crowding.

GUV URGES MAYORS IN FIGHT VS DENGUE

WHAT were true a few years back about the dengue-carrying Aedes egypti mosquito's “biting” habit is simply not true anymore. Studies show that the “day-biting” mosquito now also bites at night. And while it used to “prefer” younger children, it now also victimizes adults. To quell the rise in the number of victims – 368 cases with three deaths recorded by the Bohol Provincial Health Office (PHO) as of the first half of this year, already surpassing the 2006 yearend statistics, Gov. Erico Aumentado issued Executive Order No. 11, s. of 2007 directing the city and town mayors to initiate necessary precautionary measures against dengue fever. He urged the local chief executives to get involved in activities to prevent the spread or outbreak of the disease, among others. The executive order stated that dengue fever, an extremely debilitating and life-threatening mosquito-borne disease has evolved into a serious public health problem, and an environmental and economic concern that needs intensified collaborative efforts to contain its spread. Bohol already recorded many cases of dengue and related deaths in previous years as monitored by PHO from hospital admissions in Tagbilaran City as well as devolved hospitals across the province.

With the number of cases expected to still rise due to the onset of the rainy season, and pursuant to Section 16 or the General Welfare Clause of Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991 that mandates the promotion and protection of the health and safety of the inhabitants, the governor directed the mayors to get involved in activities to prevent the spread of the dreaded disease. EO 11 also directed the mayors to coordinate and collaborate with PHO and other concerned agencies in the monitoring and control of dengue. It also ordered them to seek social participation and enjoin offices, schools, establishments and other institutions under their respective jurisdictions to actively support dengue prevention programs. Dengue is a national concern so that the Department of Health (DOH) has also acted on it. As such, the Aumentado order directs the Bohol mayors to also implement or enforce related directives from the national and provincial governments that may be issued after EO 11.