Dengue cases in Negros Occidental up by 75%

INQUIRER FILES

BACOLOD CITY — The number of dengue cases in Negros Occidental has gone up by at least 75.32 percent in the first half of 2024.

Dr. Girlie Pinongan, Provincial Health Officer, pointed out that dengue cases from January 1 to Aug. 3 reached 1,520, almost twice the number reported over the same period last year at 867.

At least six persons had died of dengue in Negros Occidental this year with children aged 1 to 10 as most affected, said Pinongan.

The surge in cases caused the government and private hospitals and rural health units to operate at full capacity, she said.

“Additional beds and wards are being set up,” Pinongan said.

The provincial government, she said, has also opened dengue fast lanes in all its health facilities to attend to patients immediately.

Pinongan advised persons with dengue symptoms to seek medical help immediately.

The highest number of dengue patients was reported in Sipalay and Cadiz cities and Hinoba-an  town.

Pinongan stressed the need for cleanup drives to remove breeding places of mosquitoes.

Dengue is an infection caused by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.

The infection triggers a severe flu-like illness often followed by a drop in an infected person’s platelet count.

Other symptoms are severe headache, pain behind the eyes, full-body aches, nausea, vomiting, swollen glands or rashes.