The municipal government of Tanza in Cavite declared a dengue disease outbreak following the rapid increase of recorded cases in the town.
In a Facebook video posted by the municipality’s official news outlet, municipal health officer Ruth Punzalan reported that their town has recorded 207 cases from January to August this year.
The figure has doubled compared to 2020 and 2021 with 125 and 109 cases.
Punzalan said the dengue cases have exceeded the epidemic threshold and thus, there is an outbreak level.
She said that the recent heavy rains experienced in the country prompts the increase of dengue cases in Tanza.
“Ang pinaka-culprit niyan, meron pa ring natitirhang bahay pa rin ang mga lamok. Ang mga mosequitos ay meron pa ring uuwian at kaya pang mag reproduce. So ibig sabihin, may breathing places pa naiiwan natin,” she added.
Punzalan asserted that cases may increase by the end of the year if no interventions are made to prevent the spread.
“We still have four months before the year ends. Kung weekly hindi mababago yung trend, pataas ng pataas ay aabot tayo ng 500 plus. Based on last year cases, 103, 100 plus. Talagang napaka-taas po ng dengue cases natin ngayon,” she said.
Punzalan urged residents of Tanza to participate in intensive “search and destroy” to combat the transmission of dengue.
“Kailangan po namin ng tulong niyo. Kailangan po namin ng malasakit mula sa loob ng bahay, sa labas ng bahay, sa buong komunidad. Hindi na po kaniya-kaniya, kailangan po tulong-tulong tayo at sama-sama tayo sugpuin ng dengue,” she stressed.
The town of Tanza, consisting of 41 barangays, is the fourth municipality with the highest recorded number of dengue cases in Cavite.
The Department of Health (DOH) has recorded 118,785 dengue cases in the country as of Aug. 13.
Central Luzon has the highest record with 21,247, Central Visayas with 11,390 cases, and National Capital Region (NCR) with 11,064.
