• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Dengue-related deaths in Negros Occidental have reached 16 this year, even as reported cases continue to decline compared with the same period in 2025, Provincial Health Office records showed.
Some 11 dengue-related deaths among the 2,889 cases recorded from Jan. 1 to Sept. 15,
The number of cases was 38.22 percent lower than the 1,787 cases reported during the comparable period last year.
The 11-year-old boy from Barangay E. Lopez in Silay City who died of suspected dengue on Sept. 15 was not yet included in the provincial figures.
Meanwhile, highly urbanized Bacolod City recorded 666 dengue cases as of Sept. 12, down by 15.5 percent from 788 cases during the same period last year.
Five of the dengue patients in Bacolod died.
Despite the decline in reported cases, health officials continue to remind residents not to ignore symptoms and to seek medical attention when needed.
Dr. Ayessa Hugnatan, provincial health officer I, advised those experiencing possible dengue symptoms to consult a doctor and remain adequately hydrated.
She also emphasized the importance of maintaining clean surroundings and eliminating possible mosquito breeding sites as part of the efforts to prevent dengue transmission.
Health authorities continue to urge communities to practice regular cleanup, particularly in areas where stagnant water may accumulate, to reduce the population of Aedes mosquitoes that transmit dengue. | GPB
