• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Provincial Health Office reported that it recorded 1,692 dengue cases, with seven deaths, from January 1 to April 19 this year, which is an increase of 341.78 percent compared to 303 cases logged during the same period in 2024.
However, according to Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, the number of dengue cases has dropped over the past two weeks.
Lacson said he is hoping it marks the start of a continuing decline in the number of dengue cases in the province.
On the other hand, PHO reports noted a clustering of dengue cases in 17 barangays, with highest cases reported in Bago City at 333.
The age group with the most dengue cases ranges from 11 to 20 years old.
The dengue attack rate for Negros Occidental was recorded by the PHO at 63 cases per 100,000 population, with Pulupandan logging the highest attack rate at 23 cases per 100,000 population.
Dengue-related deaths were recorded in cities of Bago, Silay, and San Carlos, as well as the municipalities of Isabela, Murcia, Ilog, and Manapla.
The clustering of dengue cases was reported in the barangays of Maao, Sagasa, Jorge L. Araneta, Taloc, and Calumanggan in Bago City; Ayungon and Nagasi in La Carlota City; Mabini in Valladolid; Mambulac in Silay City; Poblacion in Cauayan; Galicia in Ilog; and the villages of Tapi, Camingawan, Tabugon, Bantayan, and Locotan in Kabankalan City; and Robles in La Castellana.*
