PALO, Leyte - The Department of Health on Tuesday said it has recorded 463 dengue cases in Eastern Visayas since the start of the year, which has resulted in five deaths.

Dr. Edgardo Gonzaga, DOH regional director for the Eastern Visayas, said the figure is 42 percent lower compared to the number of dengue cases recorded in the same period last year.

Gonzaga said the public should implement a four-point program to defeat dengue: destroying breeding sites of mosquitoes; seek early consultation if you experience fever for more than two days; self protection through the use of long sleeves, pants or application of mosquito repellents; and fogging with the supervision of a proper timing and technical officer.

"The Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit of DOH in the Region is now accepting specimens to determine what kind of dengue this is. The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine is also detemined to help us," he said. 
 
He said the local DOH office has enough medicine to treat dengue patients in the region.