BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Provincial Health Office (PHO) yesterday expressed alarm over the increasing number of dengue cases in Negros Occidental, which has already reached the alert level threshold.
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Ernell Tumimbang reported they have recorded 511 cases from January 1 to May 14, an increase of 193.68 percent compared to 174 cases in the same period last year.
PHO also recorded five deaths.
Tumimbang raised the possibility that it may reach to the epidemic level threshold, noting an increase in cases starting from the first quarter of the year.
This prompted the PHO to reactivate its provincial Dengue Task Force, which also encourages local government units to reactivate also their respective task forces, in order to harmonize their anti-dengue campaign efforts.
Tumimbang said there is also an ongoing training of dengue cases management, which they have been holding every three years.
Hinigaran town recorded highest number of dengue cases at 46, among 31 local government units in Negros Occidental, excluding highly urbanized Bacolod City. Victorias City has the lowest percentage of dengue cases with 86.67 percent while Binalbagan has the highest increase in percentage with 2,100 percent.
Despite of huge increases in number of dengue cases, Tumimbang, who presided over the meeting of all City and Municipal Health Officers, however ruled out the conduct of massive fogging operations, as it will only kill adult mosquitoes, but not the larva.
That is counter-productive, he stressed.
Tumimbang said it is still better to treat stagnant water with chemicals.*
