• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
A total of 20 dengue-related deaths were reported by health authorities in Negros Occidental and highly-urbanized Bacolod City, with cases up by more than 300 percent compared to last year.
The Provincial Health Office (PHO) logged 5,338 cases, including 15 deaths, from Jan. 1 to Oct. 26.
The figures showed an increase of 331.16 percent, from only 1,292 cases for the same period of 2023.
Meanwhile, the City Health Office reported an increase of dengue cases in Bacolod City by 312 percent, from 482 last year to 1,987 cases, with five deaths, from Jan. 1 to Oct. 19 this year.
Dr. Ma. Girlie Pinongan, provincial health officer, said the number of dengue cases in the province has been slowly decreasing in the past weeks.
She added that the PHO continues to link up with the barangays, especially those with dengue-related deaths, to advocate for cleaning of identified mosquito breeding grounds, among others.
Bago City remains on the top of the list, having the most number of dengue cases at 602, although the city has no recorded fatality.
Mayor Nicholas Yulo said dengue cases in Bago City now are lower compared to the cases last year.
With Bago City being one of the most populated local government units outside Bacolod City, the number of residents hit by dengue cases is not much in terms percentage, Yulo said.
Still, the Bago City Health Office continues to take immediate action against dengue cases by campaigning not only in barangays, but in schools as well, he added. | GB
