• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Provincial Health Office (PHO) recorded 1,338 dengue cases in Negros Occidental within a period of 45 days this year, an increase of 1,068 cases compared to 270 in the same period last year.
From January to March 15, PHO reported the clustering of dengue cases in 35 Negros Occidental barangays, with the age group with most cases ranging from 11 to 20 years old.
Total number of dengue-related deaths remained at six.
A total of 233 dengue cases, including one fatality, was also reported in highly urbanized Bacolod City, as of March 8.
Among the 31 component cities and municipalities of Negros Occidental, Bago City registered the most dengue cases at 265.
The PHO also reported three typhoid-related deaths, as of March 19.
In a report submitted to Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, the PHO logged 344 typhoid fever cases, or a 91.11 percent increase compared to the same period last year, with Kabankalan recording the most such cases at 78.
Lacson advised the public to boil their drinking water to prevent the spread of the disease, especially in affected areas.
Typhoid, according to the Department of Health, is caused by contaminated food and water.
“Communities should be extra careful with sources of water,” Lacson said.*
