FILE PHOTO
ILOILO CITY—At least 58 persons died from dengue in Western and Central Visayas from Jan. 1 to May 28.
Central Visayas recorded 38 deaths, while Western Visayas had 20, the Department of Health (DOH) said.
Dengue cases from January 1 to May 28 reached 2,065 in Western Visayas.
The number of cases was 149 percent higher than the 828 in the region recorded over the same period last year.
Dengue is a mosquito-borne infection caused by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. There is no known cure.
The infection triggers a severe flu-like illness often followed by a severe drop in an infected person’s platelet count.
The highest number of cases was recorded in Negros Occidental with 800. This was 357 percent higher compared to last year and also the highest percentage increase in the region.
Antique has 518 cases, followed by Iloilo province (330), Bacolod City (139), Capiz (118), Iloilo City (75), Aklan (63), and Guimaras (22).
Only Iloilo City registered a decline in the number of cases during this period compared to last year with a drop of 30 percent.
Health officials earlier issued an alert to local government officials of the possible surge of cases, especially with the onset of the rainy season.