BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Department of Health – Western Visayas reported that dengue cases in Negros Occidental have breached the 1,000 mark as of June 4.
DOH WV report released on June 10 indicated that Negros Occidental has an additional 143 new cases, bringing to 984 the total cases it recorded from January 1 to June 4, with six deaths, which is an increase of 456 percent compared to the same period in 2021.
During the same period, highly urbanized Bacolod City logged 190 cases, or an increase of 129 percent compared to last year, along with four deaths, the report added.
Negros Occidental remains on top of the list with having the greatest number of dengue cases at 984, followed by Antique – 624, Iloilo – 391, Bacolod City – 190, Capiz – 140, Iloilo City – 86, Aklan – 78, and 27 in Guimaras.
Since the start of the year, DOH WV recorded a total of 2,874 cases with 23 deaths all over the region.
Thirty-eight percent of the victims have ages ranging from 1 to 10 years old.
Clustering of dengue cases were reported earlier by the Provincial Health Office in 60 barangays of Bago City, Binalbagan, Calatrava, Cauayan, Himamaylan City, Hinigaran, Hinobaan, Ilog, Isabela, Kabankalan City, La Carlota City, Moises Padilla, Murcia, Pontevedra, Pulupandan, San Carlos City, San Enrique, Sipalay City, Talisay City, Toboso and Valladolid.
Negros Occidental is now on the alert level threshold, according to Provincial Health Officer Dr. Ernell Tumimbang.
Action taken by the PHO includes weekly surveillance of cases from all hospitals and LGUs, investigation of suspected dengue deaths and cases, and recommendations to the declare of outbreaks for LGUs that reach the criteria for epidemics.*
