BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental recorded 230 new dengue cases, data from the Department of Health (DOH) in Western Visayas showed.
These raised to 2,445 the number of cases in the province recorded since Jan. 1 of this year – 910 percent higher than the cases recorded from Jan. 1 to July 16, 2021.
Negros Occidental also recorded one new dengue fatality, bringing the death toll from the disease this year to 11.
Meanwhile, Bacolod City recorded 41 new dengue cases from July 10 to 16, bringing the metro’s total cases to 398 – a 159 percent increase from the cases recorded in the same period last year.
The city also recorded one new fatality, raising Bacolod’s dengue death toll to six since January of this year.
Data from the City Health Office (CHO) here showed the “dengue top 10” barangays – those with the most number of dengue cases. These were Mansilingan – 37; Estefania – 33; Tangub – 32; Taculing – 29; Singcang – 26; Sum-ag – 25; Alijis and Villamonte – 24 each; Mandalagan and Handumanan – 19 each; Granada and Cabug – 17 each; and Felisa – 10.
Last week, Negros Occidental governor Eugenio Jose Lacson held a meeting with 31 municipal and city health officers regarding dengue.
He was informed by the Provincial Health Office (PHO) about the downward trend in dengue cases in 10 local government units with the most cases.
The province, however, is bracing for a surge in the next two months due to rainy conditions.
Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection causing a severe flu-like illness that could sometimes be fatal. Its carriers are day-biting mosquitoes (Aedes albpictus and Aedes aegypti) that breed and clean, stagnant water.
According to the World Health Organization, individuals should suspect dengue when a high fever (40 degrees centigrade) is accompanied by two of the following symptoms: severe headache, pain behind the eyes, nausea / vomiting, swollen glands, muscle and joint pains, and rashes.
For severe dengue, the warning signs to look out for are: severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, rapid breathing, bleeding gums, blood in vomit, fatigue, and restlessness./PN
