Dengue cases in Negros Occidental continues to soar, as it further increased to 521 percent in the first half of 2022, compared to the same period last year, records from the Department of Health-Western Visayas show.
Based on the DOH-WV Morbidity Week 23 report from June 5 to 11, Negros Occidental remains on top of the list of provinces in Region 6 with the highest number of dengue cases at 1,161.
DOH-WV also noted an increase of dengue cases in the highly-urbanized Bacolod City, by 137 percent in the same period, with four deaths.
Bacolod has 206 total dengue cases, from January to June 11 this year.
All over the region, DOH-WV reported 426 new dengue cases, from June 5 to 11, including 143 cases in Negros Occidental, and 10 in Bacolod City, increasing the number of dengue cases to 3,029, or an upsurge of 241 percent, compared to last year.
Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, however, maintained that he is not recommending fogging operations against dengue, stressing that it is counterproductive.
It will only kill adult mosquitoes, but not the larvae, Tumimbang said.
As part of their preemptive measures, he said that they are treating stagnant water areas in the different local government units by putting chemicals into it, to destroy the mosquito larvae.
Mosquito larvae, commonly called “wigglers”, live in water from four to 14 days, depending on water temperature.
Tumimbang encourages the public to clean, not only the surroundings, but also inside the households.
Himamaylan City and Hinigaran town were reported to have the highest dengue cases in Negros Occidental./GB
