• CHERYL G. CRUZ
Dengue cases in Western Visayas decreased by 45 percent in the first three weeks of this year, or at 334 cases with one death, compared to the 611 infections logged in the same period last year, the Department of Health in the region said Feb. 2.
Records from the DOH Dengue and Malaria Program showed that 96 newly-reported cases were reported during the Jan. 14-20 monitoring. Regional dengue death count remained at one, specifically a six-year-old girl from Guimaras, who succumbed to dengue-related complications Jan. 13.
The top three areas with highest number of newly-reported cases include Iloilo Province, 18 new infections for a total of 78 since the start of this year; Iloilo City – 17 new cases (53 total), and Capiz Province – 15 new cases (69 total).
“There is an increased dengue attack rate in the provinces of Guimaras and Capiz, and Iloilo City,” the DOH6 said.
Negros Occidental, meanwhile, logged 13 new cases, for a total of 46 in the first 20 days of January, while Bacolod City recorded 10 infections, it added.
A total of 8,517 cases were recorded in 2023, with 30 fatalities, or a decrease of 45 percent, compared to the 15,411 dengue cases in 2022. | CGC
