By: Jim Lloyd Dongiapon
The municipality of Surallah, South Cotabato has been placed under state of calamity amid the surge of recorded dengue cases.
Surallah’s Sangguniang Bayan approved the resolution after the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (MDRRMC) recommended such a declaration.
MDRRM Action Officer Leonardo Ballon bared that three barangays had earlier declared a state of calamity in their areas, namely Barangays Buenavista, Centrala, and Dajay.
The official also shared that they have recorded 50 dengues cases from January to June this year, and the number continues to increase.
Barangay Dajay has the most number of cases with 20, followed by Centrala and Buenavista.
On the other hand, the town has no recorded deaths due to dengue.
The increased rainfall amount this month may have contributed to the rise of dengue cases in Surallah, he added.
Surallah’s Municipal Health Office is now conducting measures to curb the dengue outbreak such as cleanup drives and fogging, especially in areas that have clustering of cases.
Ballon encouraged the residents of their municipality to help the local government in preventing the spread of dengue through 4S, or Search and Destroy, Self-Protection Measures, Seek Early Consultation, and Say “Yes” to Fogging only during Outbreaks.
Meanwhile, South Cotabato Integrated Provincial Health Office chier Dr. Rogelio Aturdido, Jr. noted that 2022 is an “endemic year” for dengue.
He also said that the dengue outbreak in the province of South Cotabato occurs over a three-year cycle.