THE Provincial Health Office (PHO) has recommended Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson to declare a dengue outbreak in five areas of the province.

PHO head Dr. Ernell Tumimbang identified the five as the cities of Kabankalan and Bago, and the towns of Cauayan, Murcia, and Candoni.

Latest data taken from January 1 to July 13 of this year show they have recorded 3,744 dengue cases in the province.

At present, Kabankalan tops the list of the most dengue cases with 490, followed by Bago with 285, Cauayan with 228, Murcia with 147, and Candoni with 135.

The PHO had earlier recommended to Lacson to declare a “state of calamity.”

Lacson, however, said the province overall is still at an “alert” level and not an “epidemic.”

The governor urged the public to continue cleaning their surroundings in order to control the spread of dengue fever.

Lacson has also earlier issued an executive order declaring a heightened alert status. (TDE)