Concerted action undertaken by health personnel and local government units against dengue-causing mosquitoes appears to be working as the number of dengue cases admitted to local hospitals in Catanduanes continued to drop for the 6th straight week.

In its latest report as of Sept. 26, 2019, the Provincial Health Office stated that for the week ending Sept. 21, there was a 37-percent reduction in the number of admitted dengue patients in the Eastern Bicol Medical Center (EBMC) and the six district hospitals on the island.

Records show there were only 70 new dengue cases in the 11 towns as of Sept. 21, compared to 153 during the previous week.

Virac continues to have the biggest share with 22 new cases, followed by Bato with 15, Panganiban with 11 and Caramoran with 8. San Miguel and Gigmoto have three each while two cases each have been noted in Baras, Panganiban and Viga, with Bagamanoc and Pandan accounting for one case each.

Interventions being instituted in the 11 municipalities also led to a 44-percent reduction in the clustering of cases, with just 14 new cases for Morbidity Week 37 compared to 32 during the previous week.

Along with the implementation of the Aksyon Barangay Kontra Dengue (ABKD) and the 4S strategy at the local level, the conduct of space spraying or misting in priority areas or barangays with the most number of dengue cases or clustering of cases is believed to have contributed much to the decline in new dengue cases.

The report said that three PHO teams have been deployed for these misting activities in said areas.