The increase in dengue cases in Negros Occidental is alarming and hitting the alert level threshold, Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, provincial health officer, said Tuesday, May 24.
If the cases further increase the dengue situation in Negros could reach an epidemic level, he said.
Dengue cases in Negros Occidental this year have increased by 205 percent compared to 2021, which is the highest in Western Visayas, Dr. Bea Camille Natalaray, medical officer IV of the DOH WV Infectious Disease Section, said on Monday.
Negros Occidental recorded 518 cases and five deaths from January 1 to May 14 this year, compared to 170 and three deaths in the same period in 2021, Natalaray said.
However, a report from Tumimbang on Tuesday said the dengue cases in the province had only increased by 193.68 percent from January 1 to May 14 this year.
The top five areas with the most number of dengue cases in Negros Occidental are Hinigaran with 46, San Carlos City – 45, Himamaylan City and La Carlota City – 38 each, and Kabankalan City – 36.
Tumimbang held a meeting with the health officers of the 31 towns and cities of Negros Occidental at L’Fisher Hotel in Bacolod City on Tuesday and stressed the need to activate the Dengue Task Forces in their areas.
The provincial Dengue Task Force is already activated, he said.
Their target is to prevent dengue deaths and the rise in cases, he said, stressing the need to be proactive and to act fast.
Tumimbang said he is not recommending fogging but they are treating stagnant water with larvicide to eliminate the breeding grounds of mosquitoes that are dengue carriers.
But the best way is to remove stagnant water, he said.
Dengue cases increase every three years, Tumimbang said.*