• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Dengue cases in Negros Occidental were reported by the Provincial Health Office (PHO) to have increased by 75 percent, with six deaths, in the first seven months of the year, compared to the same period in 2023.
The highly urbanized Bacolod City also logged 329 dengue cases, with one fatality, an increase of 11.5 percent, compared to 295 cases last year.
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Girlie Pinongan disclosed on Wednesday that with the surge of dengue cases, they have already activated dengue fast lanes in all district hospitals and rural health units.
PHO recorded 1,520 dengue cases in the province from January to August 3 this year, compared to 867 cases in the same period last year, an increase of 75.32 percent.
Pinongan said that all Capitol-managed hospitals are full of patients, particularly those suffering from dengue, as she received reports that even private hospitals are now filled with dengue patients.
Among the 31 component cities and municipalities of Negros Occidental, Sipalay City logged the most dengue cases at 148, followed by Hinobaan with 130, while 105 cases were reported in Kabankalan City.
Pinongan said she already instructed government hospital chiefs to add more beds, and to set up additional wards for dengue patients, if the space allows.
PHO also noted that the age group with the most number of cases is one to 10 years old.
Pinongan said she already asked the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in Bacolod City to accommodate patients with tertiary level cases.
Despite an increase in dengue cases, Pinongan said it is still below the alert level threshold. She, however, called on Negrenses to clean their surroundings by removing stagnant water, which is the breeding ground for mosquitoes.*