DENGUE cases in Western Visayas are now 8,668 with 25 deaths for the period from January to August 6, 2016.
The Department of Health (DOH) said the record is 141 percent higher compared with the same period last year that posted 3,591 cases with nine deaths.
The DOH dengue report showed that the province of Iloilo has 2,766 cases with 10 deaths, Aklan has 590 cases, Antique has 1,034 cases and two deaths, Capiz has 1,039 cases and two deaths, Guimaras has 274 cases, Iloilo City has 522 cases, Negros Occidental has 1,936 and seven deaths, and Bacolod City has 487 and four deaths.
In Iloilo City, the city health office reported a total of 429 cases with no deaths from January to July this year. In 2015, a total of 211 cases with no deaths were recorded.
The whole 2015 from January to December posted a total of 652 cases with three deaths and with one reported death for the months of October, November and December.
Assistant city health officer Doctor Mae Delmo said the dengue fever 2016 showed January with 79 cases as compared to 14 cases in 2015.
February and March 2016 has 53 cases and 51 cases as compared to February March 2015 with 13 and 31 cases, respectively.
April and May 2016 has 33 and 36 cases, respectively, as compared to April and May 2015 with 31 and 11 cases.
The months of June and July 2016 posted 53 and 124 cases compared to June and July 2015 with 32 and 79 cases.
Dengue cases are expected to increase in the months of August, September, October, November and December.
The DOH regional office is strengthening its coordination with the local health units and local government units (LGUs) in its advocacy to stop the increase of dengue cases currently threatening all areas in the region due to the onset of heavy downpours brought by the monsoon rains.
In Iloilo City, the city health office is giving out free larvicides to all barangays, especially those with stagnant waters and possible breeding places of the mosquitoes.
They also advised parents to bring their children immediately to the hospital if the child has a non-subsiding fever for three to five days.
Dengue carrying mosquitoes thrive in stagnant waters and dirty surroundings and it is imperative that the residents must clean their places of abode and destroy the breeding places of mosquitoes.