CEBU, Philippines – The number of dengue cases in Cebu province is no cause for panic as it is not an alarming number, according to Integrated Provincial Health Officer Dra. Cristina Giango.

Giango said while a rise in dengue cases in the province has been noted, compared to last year, the total number of such cases per month has, in fact, been steadily decreasing, particularly in July this year. In July 2010, 275 cases were reported compared to 86 documented for the same period this year.

The Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) has recorded 788 cases as of January to August 15 this year compared to 618 cases in August 2010. Records document a total of 3,150 cases last year. Four dengue-related deaths were reported in the first seven months of this year as compared to 33 dengue-related deaths in 2010.

This year, Danao City, which was fifth in the list of areas in the province with the most cases of dengue documented last year, topped the number of cases with 136, followed by Talisay City with 65 which was seventh last year, then by Minglanilla with 61; Balamban with 57; San Fernando with 48; Consolacion with 36; Liloan with 35; Naga City with 33, Compostela with 32 and Bogo City with 24.

Last year, Minglanilla town topped the list of localities in the Cebu with the number of cases of dengue, with 288 cases, followed by San Fernando with 238; then Naga City with 206. The towns of Santa Fe in Bantayan Island and Boljoon, which were among the list of 49 municipalities and cities with dengue-related cases last year, are, so far, not in this year’s list.

Despite the comparative downward trend in dengue cases in the province, Giango reminded the public not to be complacent. “The public should continue cleaning the surroundings year round and not only when cases are high, kill breeding sites of mosquitoes and have children undergo check-up at the health centers when dengue symptoms are observed,” she urged.

The provincial health officer also asked the public to be careful with such water-borne diseases as diarrhea, typhoid fever and leptospirosis especially during the rainy season.