BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
As Western Visayas nears the 6,000 mark in dengue cases, Negros Occidental has 2,096 cases with 10 deaths, an increase of 1,863 cases from January to July 9 this year, equivalent to 823 percent when compared to 233 cases in the same period the previous year, according to a report of the Department of Health-Western Visayas.
Of the 506 new cases reported by DOH-WV from July 3 to 9, a total of 157 were logged in Negros Occidental and 14 in Bacolod City.
Dengue cases in Bacolod City were also recorded at 293, an increase of 159 percent compared to the previous year.
Of the 34 deaths in Region 6, 10 were recorded in Negros Occidental and five in Bacolod City.
Negros Occidental remains on top among six provinces and two highly urbanized cities in Western Visayas, in terms of the number of dengue cases at 2,096, followed by Antique – 1,591, Iloilo province – 986, Capiz – 330, Bacolod City – 293, Aklan -262, Iloilo City – 199 and Guimaras – 80.
Antique already declared state of calamity due to surging of dengue cases, with a 684 percent increase in cases and four deaths.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, however, did not pursue plans to place the province under a state of calamity, as the Provincial Health Office has still enough funds to address the rising dengue cases.
However, Lacson said he will ask City and Municipal Health officers of various local government units in Negros Occidental regarding their preparations in the fight against dengue during a zoom meeting today.*
