• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Dengue cases in 31 component cities and towns of Negros Occidental were recorded at 986, from January to September 2 this year, a figure that is 76.93 percent lower than the 3,124 cases logged in the same period of 2022.
Negros Occidental however logged six dengue deaths, with the one to 10 years old age group having the greatest number of cases, according to a report of the Provincial Health Office (PHO), which is currently led by Dr. Girlie Pinongan.
San Carlos City topped the 31 LGUs of Negros Occidental, not including the highly urbanized Bacolod City, having the most cases at 123, with two deaths, the PHO report added.
On the other hand, the City Health Office (CHO) also logged 355 cases in the same period, with three deaths in highly urbanized Bacolod City. However, dengue cases also dropped by 52.2 percent compared to the same period last year, which was 743, with nine mortalities.
The CHO also reported 12 deaths in 67 cases of suspected leptospirosis in Bacolod City.
It logged a 204.5 percent increase in leptospirosis cases in Bacolod City, to 67 this year, from 22 in 2022.
The CHO report further said that 70 percent of such cases have declared exposure or contact with contaminated water or ground.
Most common reason for complications and death are triggered by delayed health seeking behavior, and denial of leptospirosis infection.*
