The Department of Health – Western Visayas recorded more than 20,000 dengue cases in the region in its 35th week of surveillance, which is 264 percent higher compared to the same period last year.
Records showed that from Jan. 1 to Aug. 31 dengue cases in the region were 20,814 with 51 deaths, compared to 5,711 cases and 25 deaths in the same period last year.
There were 2,758 new cases recorded last week.
Iloilo Province had the highest number of dengue cases with 8,039 followed by Negros Occidental with 3,296.
Capiz had 2,104 cases, Aklan – 2,103, Guimaras – 1,668, Iloilo City – 1,407, Antique – 1,111, and Bacolod City – 1,086.
The DOH said 34.5 percent of those hit with dengue were 11 to 20 years old, while 31.6 percent were aged 1 to 10.
Of the 51 dengue deaths this year, 23 came from Iloilo province, 10 from Neg. Occ., and 3 from in Bacolod City, the DOH reported.*