• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Negros Occidental logged 412 dengue cases, including three deaths, in only a week from Aug. 24 to 31, a report of the Provincial Health Office (PHO) showed.
In a report Thursday, Sept. 5, PHO noted an increase of dengue cases, from 2,822 on Aug. 24 to 3,234 on Aug. 31, raising also the number of deaths from six to nine.
Highly-urbanized Bacolod City recorded 875 dengue cases from Jan. 1 to Aug. 24 this year, with three deaths, registering an increase of 139.7 percent compared to 380 cases in the same period last year.
The top 10 local government units in Negros Occidental with the highest number of dengue cases include Hinobaan with 312; Bago City – 274; Sipalay City – 234; Talisay City – 208; Sagay City – 199; San Carlos City – 198; Kabankalan City – 196; Silay City – 186; Cadiz City – 179; and Cauayan – 171.
The 3,234 dengue cases reported from Jan. 1 to Aug. 31 this year showed an increase of 214.29 percent or 2,205 cases, from only 1,029 in the same period last year.
The Department of Health (DOH)-Western Visayas urged the public to seek immediate consultation once they manifest signs and symptoms of dengue as cases and deaths in the region continue to rise.
Dr. Bea Camille Natalaray, program medical coordinator for emerging and re-emerging infectious disease cluster, said during the virtual presser on Wednesday (Sept. 4) that parents should understand that they need to bring their children to health facilities within two days after they manifest signs and symptoms.
Age group with the most number of cases is one to 10 years old.
The DOH, as part of its interventions, has ongoing case and serotype surveillance, outbreak response monitoring, holds refresher on dengue clinical management and orientation on pesticide application, and conducts dengue death reviews. | GB
