• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Over the last nine months, at least 13 people have died and 4,400 were infected by the dengue virus in Negros Occidental, according to the Provincial Health Office (PHO).
There was an increase of 3,219 dengue cases, or 272.5 percent, from January to September 28 this year, compared to 1,811 cases in the same period of 2023, the PHO reported.
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Girlie Pinongan disclosed on Thursday that at 437 dengue cases, Bago City has the most among the 30 component cities and municipalities of Negros Occidental.
The age group with the most cases are children ranging from one to 10 years old, PHO reports said.
Pinongan noted that dengue victims were usually brought to hospitals when the infection had already taken a turn for the worse.
While the number of dengue patients in hospitals are slowly declining, Pinongan said they are still maintaining the dengue fast lanes, even in LGU rural health units.
Meanwhile, the Bacolod City Health Office reported 1,448 dengue cases, with three fatalities, from January to Sept. 14
The CHO reports also indicated an increase of dengue cases by 245.6 percent, compared to 419 cases, with three deaths during the same period last year.
Pinongan said they are also campaigning on dengue awareness in schools, adding that some of the dengue infected victims are students, aside from barangays which have clustering of dengue cases.*
