Caloocan City Mayor Enrico “Recom” Echiverri said yesterday  the number of dengue cases in the city has decreased in the first six months of the year.
Based on the report submitted by City Health Officer Dr. Raquel So-Sayo, 834 cases of dengue were reported in the city from Jan. 1 to June 11 this year. This is a 15-percent decrease as compared to the 983 cases listed in the same period last year.
While the city ranks third in the Department of Health’s list with the most number of dengue cases in Metro Manila, it only posted 0.5 percent Case Fatality Rate with four persons dead from the disease.
Doctors said the fatality rate also went down, as only seven persons died of dengue last year.
Caloocan’s City Health Department (CHD) said  Barangay 178 recorded 73 or nine percent dengue cases in the city.
Echiverri said the CHD continues to step up its anti-dengue campaign through the Action Barangay Kontra Dengue, Direct Reporting and Response System and distributes Olyset Net to barangay chairmen and day-care centers.
Apart from these, the local government intensified its education campaign on the disease and conducted Mosquito Ovicidal/Larvicidal Trap and Misting Operation in schools.
Caloocan has also set up dengue fast lane in health centers in coordination with the Barangay and School Dengue Task Force. It also ordered clean-up and fogging operations to prevent the spread of the disease.
Tribune was told that Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas president Councilor Ricojudge “RJ” Echiverri has been closely coordinating  with the local government in the prevention of the disease.
Dengue is a disease transmitted by a mosquito bite. Its symptoms include headache, fever, exhaustion, muscle pain, swollen glands and rash.
In preventing dengue, Echiverri urged residents to empty stagnant water from trash cans, flower pots and old tires. For personal protection, the people must also use mosquito repellant sprays.