The Provincial Health Office reported recently that influenza-like illnesses (ILI) in Negros Occidental significantly increased by 312.17 percent in 2023, compared to 2022, affecting mostly children up to 10 years old.
Cases rose from 649 in 2022 to 2,675 last year, PHO reports showed.
PHO also logged 65 deaths last year, compared to 19 in 2022.
Isabela topped the 31 municipalities and component cities of Negros Occidental, having the highest number of ILI cases at 2,050, which is an increase of 758 percent, compared to 239 cases in 2022.
While Talisay has only 59 cases, it had nine deaths, followed by Murcia, which had 91 cases last year with eight deaths, the PHO report added.
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Ma. Girlie Pinongan also noted ILI symptoms are also on the rise during the first two weeks of 2024, although figures were not available yesterday.
Influenza-like illness is defined as fever, or abrupt onset with chills, headache, malaise, myalgia, cough, pharyngitis, and other respiratory complaints.
Pinongan, who attributes it to the changing weather, appealed to parents to immediately consult with doctors if their children show flu-like symptoms, or it could evolve into pneumonia.
She also announced that the PHO is delivering flu vaccines to local government units in Negros Occidental, with the priority being senior citizens and those with existing illnesses.
(Gilbert Bayoran via The Visayan Daily Star (TVDS), photo courtesy by TVDS)