Negros Occidental has had a 56 percent increase in dengue cases in 2022, which is the highest in Western Visayas, the Department of Health (DOH) in Region 6 reported Tuesday, April 26.
The DOH 6 Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit reported that there has been a 4 percent increase in WV dengue cases in 2022 at 714 from January 1 to April 16 compared to 689 cases in the same period in 2021.
The age group with the most number of dengue cases in WV is from 1 to 10 years old, or 37 percent.
There have also been 14 dengue deaths in Western Visayas this year.
Negros Occidental had the highest increase in dengue cases from January 1 to 16 at 56 percent followed by Guimaras – 38 percent, Iloilo Province – 22 percent, and Bacolod City – 11 percent.
The regional dengue death count for 2022 was at 14 as of April 16, the DOH said.
The DOH reported 238 dengue cases and two deaths in Negros Occidental, and 70 cases in Bacolod City and two deaths from January 1 to April 16 this year.
In Morbidity Week 15 from April 10 to 16 Western Visayas had 47 new COVID-19 cases with Negros Occidental also having the highest at 17, followed by Iloilo Province with 12 and Antique with 7.
Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, Negros Occidental provincial health officer, reminded the public to take precautions against dengue.
There may be an under reporting of dengue cases that could be mistaken for COVID-19 or just fever since symptoms are similar, he said.
Tumimbang said he has reminded health personnel to be vigilant against other diseases, “because we might focus on COVID only”.
There is a measles case reported in Bacolod, so there is a need to step up vaccination against it, he said.
Vaccination against measles has gone down lately, he said.*