• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Department of Health said Feb. 19 that dengue cases in Western Visayas in the first five weeks of this year decreased by 10 percent, compared to the same period last year.
Data released by the DOH-WV Center for Health Development-Dengue and Malaria Program showed that from Jan. 1 to Feb. 3, 2024, there were 764 cases logged, from 849 infections noted in the same period in 2023.
Of the 764 cases, 209 were reported by the region’s six provinces and two highly-urbanized cities, as of the Jan. 28 to Feb. 3 monitoring.
Iloilo province topped the list with 65 new cases, for a total of 184 dengue infections; Aklan, 40 new cases (126 total); and Capiz, 34 new cases (119 total).
“There are increased attack rates of dengue (2023 vs. 2024) in the provinces of Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, and Iloilo, as well as Iloilo City,” the report added.
Negros Occidental, meanwhile, has 26 new cases, for a total of 103, and seven in Bacolod (23 total).
Everyone is urged to regularly check containers with water, especially after the rain, as these are common mosquito-breeding places. | CGC
