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FEWER dengue fever cases and deaths were reported in Cebu City in 2013, but last year saw a significant increase in the number of pneumonia cases that resulted in deaths.

Records of the Cebu City Health Department showed that the number of pneumonia cases last year increased by 165 percent, from only 1,378 in 2012 to 3,658 in 2013.

The number of deaths caused by pneumonia also rose from 16 in 2012 to 64 deaths last year, or an increase of 300 percent.

In Cebu City, pneumonia topped the list of communicable diseases with the most number of deaths, followed by diarrhea, meningitis and dengue.

Assistant City Epidemiologist Durinda Macasocol said pneumonia is common among the elderly who have other illnesses and are too weak.

Although there are free pneumonia vaccines provided, perhaps some elderly did not have access to it thats why they succumbed to pneumonia. Hopefully this year we can get more vaccines from the Department of Health, she told Sun.Star Cebu.

Other fatal diseases

The World Health Organization lists pneumonia as the leading cause of death among children worldwide. It is a form of acute respiratory infection that affects the lungs, making breathing difficult.

Macasocol said pneumonia can be prevented by getting vaccinated and having adequate nutrition.

Among the communicable diseases monitored by the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (Cesu), diarrhea had the second highest number of deaths in 2013 with 23, followed by meningitis with six deaths and dengue fever with five deaths.

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Pneumonia no. 1 killer last year