CEBU CITY — At least 31 persons died of dengue fever this year as cases of the mosquito-borne disease increased in Central Visayas, reports from the Department of Health (DOH) showed.

From January to May 7, the number of dengue cases reached 3,177, according to the DOH’s Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit.

The number of dengue cases in the region this year was higher than the 820 cases reported during the same period in 2021 when only four persons died.

Cebu City posted the highest number of cases at 708 and 11 deaths, followed by Lapu-Lapu City with 444 cases and six deaths and Mandaue City with 214 cases and two deaths.

Dr. Jeffrey Ibones, chief of the Cebu City Health Department, advised residents who are experiencing symptoms of dengue to seek medical help and undergo laboratory examinations to confirm if they were infected with the disease.

Symptoms of dengue include severe headache, pain behind the eyes, body aches, high fever, nausea, vomiting, swollen glands, or rash.

Ibones stressed the need for early detection since the disease could be easily treated in its earlier stage.

Dengue is transmitted mainly by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which thrives in densely populated areas and breeds in stagnant water.

Ibones believed the spike in dengue cases in the region was due to water deposited from heavy rain dumped by Typhoon “Odette” (international name: Rai) in December 2021 and by Tropical Depression “Agaton” (Megi) in April this year.

Ibones advised people to conduct cleanup drives in areas where mosquitoes breed.