• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Provincial Health Office (PHO) logged 418 cases of influenza-like illness in nine of the 31 local government units in Negros Occidental in the first six weeks of 2024.
As of Feb. 10, Isabela ranked number one with 296 cases, followed by Pontevedra, 74; San Carlos City, 39; Hinigaran, three; Talisay City, two; and cities of Bago, Calatrava, La Castellana and Murcia, one each.
No death has been reported.
Most of the cases are children aged between one and 10.
Influenza-like illness is characterized by fever, fatigue, cough, sore throat, and body aches, among others.
Dr. Ma. Girlie Pinongan, provincial health officer, urged people to wear mask in closed and crowded spaces as a precaution.
Pinongan also reminded the public not no self-medicate by taking antibiotics immediately without consulting a physician. | GB
