By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

The General Santos City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU) is reporting clusters of dengue fever in six of the city’s 26 barangays (villages) during a 3 week period from late July yo mid-August.

Aedes aegypti/CDC

According to City Health Office (CHO) chief, Dr. Rochelle Oco, the barangays include San Isidro with six; Mabuhay, Labangal, and City Heights with four each; and, Lagao and Calumpang with three each.

Since the beginning of the year, the city has seen a total of 962 dengue cases, up by 116 percent when compared to the 445 listed in the same period last year.

The reported deaths also increased from five in 2020 to eight so far this year.

Dr. Oco stated that 95 percent of the cases required hospitalization (913).

In the affected barangays, interventions like information and education campaigns as well as search and destroy activities of possible breeding places of dengue-carrying mosquitoes are instituted.

Oco cited the observance of the 4S strategy and the “4’oclock habit” or daily cleanup activities at 4 p.m., especially at the household level.

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“4S” stands for search and destroy mosquito-breeding sites; secure self-protection measures, such as wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts and daily use of mosquito repellent; seek early consultation; and, support fogging or spraying only in hotspots where an increase in cases has been registered for two consecutive weeks.