Dengue cases in Negros Occidental continues to increase as 143 new cases were reported for the period of June 5 to 11, bringing to 1,161 total cases documented since the start of the year, with six deaths.
The additional cases resulted to an increase of 521 percent for the period of January to June 11, compared to the same period last year, a report of the Department of Health- Western Visayas said.
A similar trend was also noted by DOH-WV in highly urbanized Bacolod City, where dengue cases have risen 137 percent in the same period, with four deaths.
It has recorded a total of 206 cases, with 10 new cases reported from June 5 to 11, while the number of deaths remains at four.
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Ernell Tumimbang however maintained that he is not recommending fogging operations against dengue mosquitoes, stressing that it is counterproductive.
It will only kill adult mosquitoes, but not the larvae, he said.
As part of their pre-emptive measures, Tumimbang said they are treating areas with stagnant water in the different local government, using chemicals to destroy the mosquito larvae.
Mosquito larvae, commonly called “wigglers”, can live in water from 4 to 14 days depending on water temperature.
Tumimbang encourages not only the cleaning of surroundings, but even inside households.
Himamaylan City and Hinigaran were reported to have highest number of dengue cases in Negros Occidental.
Based on DOH-WV Morbidity Week 23 report from June 5 to 11, of which was released on June 17, Antique has recorded the highest number of newly reported dengue cases with 149, followed by Negros Occidental with 143, and Iloilo with 78 cases.
All over the region, DOH-WV reported 426 new dengue cases, increasing the number of cases to 3,029, an increase of 241 percent compared to last year. (Gilbert Bayoran via tvds photo by tvds)