Bohol declares state of calamity as dengue cases rise
TAGBILARAN CITY – The province of Bohol has been placed under a state of calamity due to the rise in dengue cases.
In response to the recommendations of the Provincial Anti-Dengue Task Force to intensify efforts against the mosquito-borne disease, the members of the Provincial Board approved the state of calamity resolution on September 3.
Based on the data from the Provincial Health Office, Bohol recorded 5,839 dengue cases from January 1 to August 24 this year.
The figure was 451.4 percent higher compared to the 971 cases reported over the same period last year.
On September 2, Bohol officials declared a provincewide dengue outbreak after the reported cases surpassed the epidemic threshold, or the level where the number of incidents have exceeded the average number in the last five years.
Based on the report of the Provincial Epidemiological Surveillance Unit, there were at least 17 localities that have cases above the epidemic threshold.
These were Tagbilaran City, the provincial capital; and the towns of Anda, Alicia, Baclayon, Balilihan, Candijay, Dauis, Garcia Hernandez, Getafe, Inabanga, Mabini, Maribojoc, San Isidro, Sikatuna, Talibon, Trinidad and Tubigon.
The province has one city, Tagbilaran, and 47 municipalities.
Aid to hospitals
Bohol Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado said the provincial government, through the Provincial Health Office, has taken necessary actions to combat the rising number of dengue cases.
The provincial government has procured P5.3 million worth of intravenous fluids, testing kits, and additional beds to help province-owned hospitals attend to dengue patients brought to these medical facilities.
Procured supplies were already distributed in 10 government-run hospitals in the province, the governor said.
Aumentado also directed city and municipal health officers and hospitals to establish dengue fast lanes to facilitate faster accommodation of patients.
According to the World Health Organization, dengue is an infection caused by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.
The infection triggers a severe flu-like illness often followed by a severe drop in an infected person’s platelet count.
