Dengue cases in Negros Occidental have increased by 126.16 percent this year, which is the highest in Western Visayas, Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, provincial health officer, said Thursday, May 19.
There have been 389 dengue cases in Negros Occidental from January 1 to May 7, or an increase by 217 cases compared to the 172 cases in 2021, he said.
Five persons have also died from dengue in Negros Occidental this year, compared to three in 2021, he said.
La Carlota City, Himamaylan City, Calatrava, Talisay City and Toboso have one dengue death each this year, Tumimbang said.
San Carlos City has the highest number of dengue cases at 36, followed by Hinigaran with 34, La Carlota City – 32, Himamaylan City – 30, Sagay City – 24, Cadiz City – 21, Kabankalan City – 21, Calatrava -18, Cauayan -16, Binalbagan – 14, Valladolid -13, Bago City -12, Escalante City – 12, Hinoba-an – 12, Isabela – 12, Talisay City -11, Pontevedra – 9, Silay City -9, Murcia – 7, Toboso – 7, Manapla – 6, San Enrique -6, Moises Padilla – 5, EB Magalona – 4, Pulupandan – 4, Sipalay City – 3, and 2 each in Candoni, Ilog, La Castellana Salvador Benedicto and Victorias City.
Victorias City had the highest decrease in cases with 2 this year compared to 14 in 2021.
Binalbagan had the highest increase in cases from 1 in 2021 to 14 this year.
Tumimbang said dengue cases increase every three years because that is its epidemiologic cycle, which is the reason why they are going up this year.
He is hoping the rise in dengue cases will stop this summer.
Negros Occidental will hit an alert threshold if its dengue cases hit 500 this year.
Dengue is a viral infection transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes.*