DENGUE cases in Bacolod City have increased by 202.6 percent from January to July 9 this year compared to the same period last year, the local health office reported yesterday, July 19.
Records of the City Health Office (CHO) showed that from January 1 to July 9, 2022, the city had a total of 345 dengue cases with seven fatalities.
This is higher compared to 114 cases and two deaths for the same period last year.
Of 345 dengue cases, Barangays Tangub and Mansilingan have the highest number of cases with 31 each.
They are followed by Barangays Estefania with 27; Taculing and Singcang-Airport - 26 each; Sum-ag - 25; Alijis - 21; Villamonte - 20; Mandalagan - 19, and Handumanan and Granada with 16 each.
Dr. Grace Tan, head of CHO Environment Sanitation Division, reiterated that the public should practice the 4S program of the Department of Health.
The 4S means “Search and destroy” mosquito-breeding sites, practice “Self-protection measures” such as wearing of long pants and long-sleeved shirts, and daily use of mosquito repellent), “Seek early consultation”, and “Support fogging/spraying”.
The local health authorities reiterate that fogging or spraying should only be in hotspot areas where an increase in cases is registered for two consecutive weeks to prevent an impending outbreak.
Research showed that two most prominent species of mosquitoes that transmit viruses are Aedes aegypti in enclosed areas and Aedes albopictus mosquito which stays in open spaces.
Councilor Claudio Puentevella, chairperson of the city council’s committee on health, said he already asked the CHO to intensify its campaign in various barangays to address the increase of dengue cases.
He said he earlier authored a resolution urging the private and public schools in the city through the Department of Education (DepEd) and Commission on Higher Education (Ched) to include in their cleanliness drive the intensified campaign against dengue in preparation for the opening of the School Year 2022 to 2023.
“This week, we are eyeing for another resolution pushing for a city-wide campaign against dengue because since January we have had high cases of dengue,” he added.
In Negros Occidental, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Ernell Tumimbang yesterday, July 19, urged all Municipal and City Health Offices to activate their respective Dengue Task Force.
Tumimbang said this is to address the increasing number of cases of the mosquito-borne disease in the province.
He noted that the province is also preparing for the information campaign in its attempt to further educate the public that dengue cases are high in a certain locality.
As of July 9, 2022, localities in the province having the most number of dengue cases are Himamaylan City, Kabankalan City, La Carlota City, Hinigaran, San Carlos City, Bago City, Binalbagan, Pontevedra, Cadiz City and Cauayan.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson earlier dismissed the idea of placing the province under a state of calamity because of the increasing dengue cases saying it's “no longer necessary.”
Negros Occidental is number one in Western Visayas in terms of having the most number dengue cases, the Department of Health reported.
Data from the regional line agency showed the province also has the highest number of newly reported dengue cases, at 185.
It has a total of 1,869 cases from January 1 to July 2, 2022, which is 777 percent increase compared to the same period last year.*