There is no outbreak of dengue cases in Negros Occidental even if the number of fatalities in the province continues to rise.
Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, provincial health officer, said yesterday that Negros Occidental has already reached the epidemic level due to the number of deaths, but stressed that there’s no declaration of outbreak yet.
From January 1 to September 3 this year, a total of 18 dengue deaths were reported in the province while only two fatalities were recorded for the same period last year, records of the Provincial Health Office (PHO) showed.
A total of 3,693 dengue cases were reported from January 1 to September 3 this year.
Based on the PHO weekly report, the dengue cases have dropped in the last four weeks.
Tumimbang said the dengue cases peaked on Week 31, which is in August, with 344 cases, then it dropped to 304 the following week.
In Week 33, the reported dengue cases were 282, then 233 the following week.
Last week, which is Week 35, the total number of dengue cases dropped to 181.
However, the number of deaths continues to increase after two more fatalities were reported in the past week.
Talisay City has the highest number of deaths with three followed by the cities of Bago, La Carlota, San Carlos, and Silay with two each; and Sagay City and towns of E.B. Magalona, Hinigaran, Hinoba-an, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, and Murcia, with one each.
Majority of the cases were reported in Silay City with 374 followed by Talisay City, 303; Bago City, 302; Himamaylan City, 285; Cauayan, 266; Kabankalan City, 255; Isabela, 208; La Carlota City, 159; San Carlos City, 151; and Hinoba-an, 116.
Tumimbang said they continue to conduct emergency fogging and larvicide treatment in localities with high dengue incidence.