The Provincial Government of Bohol has declared a state of calamity following a terrifying surge in dengue cases, now breaching the 7,000 mark, with the death toll reaching 15 as of Friday.
Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado issued Executive Order No. 34 declaring a dengue outbreak after the Provincial Anti-Dengue Task Force (PADTF) recommended the action.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) subsequently passed a resolution on Tuesday placing the entire province under a state of calamity.
According to Dr. Tomas Cezar Lopez, officer-in-charge of the Provincial Health Office (PHO), Bohol has recorded 6,256 dengue cases since January 2024.
This marks a 451.4% increase from the 971 cases reported during the same period last year.
“The declaration of an outbreak gives an impetus to Boholanos that the dengue problem has reached alarming levels and something that should no longer be taken lightly,” Lopez said during a Capitol Reports briefing on Friday.
The surge in cases has overwhelmed local healthcare facilities.
Reports indicate that patients admitted to the province’s 10 district hospitals are overflowing, with some staying in lobbies due to a lack of available rooms.
In response to the crisis, the provincial government has allocated P5.3 million for the purchase of IV fluids, testing kits, and additional beds for provincial hospitals.
These supplies have already been distributed to various district hospitals across Bohol.
Gov. Aumentado has also signed Executive Order No. 33, forming a task force to lead dengue control efforts.
The task force is chaired by Dr. Lopez and includes representatives from various government agencies and local government units (LGUs).
Board Member Benjie Arcamo, who leads the provincial board in crafting policy direction to reduce dengue incidence, explained that the state of calamity declaration allows the province to access calamity funds to combat the outbreak.
“The state of calamity will persist until the dengue problems subside,” Arcamo said.
Meanwhile, a representative from the Department of Health (DOH) Manila has noted that while cases have increased significantly compared to last year, health professionals have managed to keep fatalities relatively low.
“Dengue is self-limiting and with proper management, it will just fade away like the common influenza,” the DOH explained. “However, death may occur with improper management and if the treatment has been severely delayed.”
Data shows that the majority of dengue patients are young children between five and 10 years old.
In light of this, the DOH is reminding parents and school officials to ensure children’s surroundings are clean and free from mosquito breeding sites.
Local government units are now expected to reactivate their respective task forces and implement the DOH’s recommended 4S strategy:
1. Search and Destroy mosquito breeding sites
2. Self-protection measures
3. Seek early consultation
4. Support fogging/spraying in hotspot areas
1st District Congressman Edgar Chatto, who chairs the House committee on climate change, expressed concern over the surge in cases during a recent media appearance.
He stressed the importance of community involvement in the fight against dengue.
“Every Boholano should contribute his or her effort in the fight against dengue as it has reached alarming levels,” Chatto said.
The outbreak has placed Bohol as the province with the highest number of dengue cases in Visayas regions.
Several towns, including Tagbilaran City, Talibon, and Trinidad, have surpassed the epidemic threshold.
At the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Medical Center (GCGMMC), the province’s main public hospital, eight new dengue patients were admitted on Tuesday alone, further straining resources.
Health experts continue to urge residents to eliminate stagnant water where mosquitoes can breed and to seek immediate medical attention if dengue symptoms appear.
Common symptoms include high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, nausea, vomiting, swollen glands, and rash.
Amid this public health crisis, officials urged LGUs to exercise a coordinated response involving government agencies, healthcare providers, and community members at the Purok level, as Cong. Chatto has pushed.
Observers said the coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether the Province can effectively curb the spread of dengue and prevent further loss of life, following Capitol’s state of calamity declaration.