Dengue cases in Negros Occ. rise by 355%, says health exec

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines–A health official has expressed alarm over the steep increase in the number of dengue fever cases in Negros Occidental from Jan. 1 to Feb. 2.

Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, Negros Occidental provincial health officer, on Monday said that as of Feb. 2, the cases of dengue fever in the province rose by 355 percent, from only 63 cases in the same period last year to 287 this year.

Tumimbang said the dengue cases were reported in Talisay City (37), San Carlos City (34), Bago City (29), Victorias City (25), Silay City (20), La Carlota City (17), Escalante City (14), Manapla (12), Binalbagan, Murcia and Sagay (10 each), San Enrique and Isabela (8 each), Cadiz, Calatrava and La Castellana (6 each), Hinigaran and Kabankalan City (5 each), Himamaylan City and Don Salvador Benedicto (4 each), Toboso (3), Ilog, Moises Padilla, Pontevedra, Pulupandan, Sipalay City and Valladolid (2 each), and Cauayan and San Enrique (1 each).

The ranking based on the population of each area would place La Carlota City at No. 1, followed by Bago City, Murcia, Silay, San Carlos, Talisay, Victorias, Binalbagan, Manapla and Hinigaran, he added.

Tumimbang stressed the need to work at eliminating dengue fever through strict compliance with the 4S drive, which calls for the search and destruction of mosquito breeding places, self-protection, seeking early treatment and saying no to indiscriminate fogging.