The number of dengue cases in the province has dropped, the North Cotabato Integrated Provincial Health Office (NCIPHO) reported.

Despite the improvement in the fight against dengue though, NCIPHO chief Dr. Eva Rabaya, said the provincial government would sustain its drive to defeat the mosquito-borne disease.

The campaign includes the procurement of four additional units of fogging machines, the conduct of training on fogging machine operation, massive information dissemination campaigns and the enhanced “4S Strategy” or the Search and Destroy, Seek Early Consultation, Self-Protect, and Support Fogging measures.

“Fogging operations are only initiated when there’s already an outbreak,” she said.

The province has reached the epidemic threshold this year when it recorded a 220-percent increase in dengue cases or 2,225 cases compared to last year’s 640 cases from January to May.

For this year, the NCIPHO reported 16 deaths as of late August due to dengue with about 4,000 cases.

“Since September, cases have been declining and the province now is only on the “alert” status where each town/city recording only two or three dengue cases,” Rabaya reported.

During the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) meeting at the provincial capitol, Rabaya reported that the NCIPHO had conducted fogging operations in the towns of Makilala, Alamada, Tulunan, Pikit, Kabacan, Pigcawayan and Kidapawan City due to high incidence of dengue cases.

She said to sustain the campaign against the deadly diseases, the provincial government will host a Dengue Summit on October 7 – 8 in Kidapawan City.

In the same meeting, Vice Governor Emmylou Mendoza, acting governor, and presiding officer of the PDRRMC, called on police authorities to also help the provincial government in its fight against another current health concern, the African Swine Fever (ASF).

Mendoza said the movement of swine and other animals in all entry points in the province must be monitored.

“We have everything in place, in fact, we are the only province with an existing quarantine ordinance and we have collaborated with the local government officials of the entry points namely Makilala, Arakan, Tulunan, Carmen and Pigcawayan for quarantine facilities,” she said.

“But we cannot do it alone here in the province, we need your help in making our communities safe, healthy and course and polio and ASF-free,” Mendoza told provincial police officials.

To date, no ASF case among hogs in the province has been reported. (PNA)