BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Iloilo City tied with Negros Occidental in the number of new dengue cases, data released by the Department of Health in Western Visayas (DOH-6) showed.
The region recorded 58 new dengue cases for Morbidity Week No. 5, covering Jan. 29 to Feb. 4. Of the new cases, Iloilo City and Negros Occidental recorded 12 each.
As of Feb. 4, the region has a total of 569 dengue cases – 172 percent higher compared to 209 cases recorded in the same period last year.
Negros Occidental still has the highest number of dengue cases in the region with 150, followed by Antique (64) and Aklan (81).
It was also noted that Aklan recorded the highest increase in dengue cases this year with the province only reporting four cases in the same period last year.
DOH-6 also recorded three new dengue fatalities, bringing the total death toll to seven.
Meanwhile, 23 barangays in the region logged clustering of dengue cases.
DOH-6 said Barangay Sooc in Arevalo, Iloilo City has been tagged as hotspot area due to clustering of cases and reported death.
There is clustering of dengue cases if there are at least three cases within four consecutive weeks./PN
