• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Negros Occidental, including the highly-urbanized Bacolod City, logged 17 dengue- related deaths as the number of cases continue to rise in the province.
From Jan. 1 to Oct. 5 this year, dengue cases in the 31 towns and cities of Negros Occidental further rose to 4,673 cases, with 13 deaths.
This shows an increase of 286.20 percent, from only 1,210 cases recorded during the same period last year.
The death toll increased to four in Bacolod City, with cases up by 280.7 percent in the first nine months of the year, according to the report of the City Health Office (CHO).
Dengue-related deaths were recorded by the CHO in Barangays 16, Estefania, Felisa and Sum-ag, while Barangay Taculing has the most number of cases in Bacolod City, with 216.
From Jan. 1 to Sept. 28 this year, the CHO logged 1,694 cases with four probable deaths compared to 445 cases with three fatalities from last year.
In Negros Occidental, the local government units with highest number of dengue cases are Bago City – 476, Hinobaan – 353, San Carlos City – 350, Sagay City – 314, Talisay City – 303, Kabankalan City – 302, Sipalay City and Cadiz City – 264 each, Silay City – 259, and Cauayan – 237.
In Bacolod, Dr. Grace Tan, head of the CHO Environment Sanitation Division, reiterated her call for parents to immediately bring their children to a health facility if they have symptoms like colds, cough, and fever so that proper medical attention will be given.
Tan noted that majority of those affected by dengue are individuals with ages between one and 19 years old.
Also listed with the highest number of dengue cases are Barangays Bata – 152, Mansilingan – 130, Estefania – 129, Mandalagan – 84, Alijis – 84, Tangub – 79, Granada – 74, and Sum-ag – 72. | GB
