• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Provincial Health Office (PHO) has reported an increase of 312.17 percent in cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) in Negros Occidental in 2023 compared to the cases recorded for the same period in the previous year.
It rose from only 649 cases in 2022 with 19 deaths to 2,026 cases last year along with 65 deaths.
Affected were mostly children up to 10 years old.
Isabela registered the highest cases of ILI at 2,050 among the 31 municipalities and component cities of Negros Occidental.
Its cases increased by 758 percent in the past year compared to 239 cases in 2022.
Talisay has only 59 cases, but has recorded nine deaths, followed by Murcia, having 91 cases with eight deaths, the PHO report added.
Dr. Ma. Girlie Pinongan, provincial health officer, noted that the ILI symptoms were also on the rise in the first two weeks of 2024, although the figures were not yet available yesterday.
ILI is defined as fever, or abrupt onset with chills, headache, malaise, myalgia, cough, pharyngitis, other respiratory complaints.
Pinongan, who attributed it the changing weather, appealed to parents to immediately consult with doctors if their children show flu-like symptoms as it can evolve into pneumonia.
She said that the PHO is delivering anti-flu vaccines to local government units in Negros Occidental, particularly for senior citizens and those with existing illnesses. | GB
