5 die of dengue fever in Negros since January

Bacolod City — The number of deaths from dengue fever in Negros Occidental this year has risen to five although the number of persons afflicted by the deadly virus has dropped by 16 percent compared to 2010.

The two new dengue fatalities were Marlon Fernandez, 22, of Cadiz City who died on April 17 and Eva Jane Perez, 18, of Bago City who died on May 22, Negros Occidental provincial health officer Dr. Ernell Tumimbang said quoting a report covering Jan. 1 to May 21.

The three other fatalities reported earlier were Romeo Cogonon, 23, of Calatrava (Jan. 16), Cris Cleminia, 5 months old, of Bago City (Feb. 2) and Alejandro Gale, 59, of Escalante City (March 10).

On Monday, Tumimbang said a total of 468 dengue cases were admitted to different private and public hospitals in Negros Occidental from Jan. 1 to May 21 this year, about 16 percent lower than the 558 cases in the same period last year.

The deaths reported in the same period last year was also lower at two deaths.

Tumimbang said the top 10 areas with the most dengue cases this year are Bago City (87), San Carlos City (57), Silay City (30), Calatrava (27), La Carlota City (24), Talisay City (24), Victorias City (23), Cadiz City (18), Sagay City (18) and Himamaylan City (16).

The towns of Cauayan and Candoni had the lowest number of cases at one each, he added.

Tumimbang stressed the need for cleanliness and the removal of stagnant water that could become breeding places for the mosquito Aedes aegypti, which carries the dengue virus. /INQUIRER