26 dengue deaths in Western Visayas

By: Emme Rose Santiagudo 

FROM January 1 to March 16, 2019, dengue has claimed the lives of 26 people in Western Visayas region, according to the Department Health-Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD)-6.

Dr. Jessie Glen Alonsabe, medical specialist III of DOH-6, said they have recorded 4,347 dengue cases in the region so far.

According to Alonsabe, the number is 142 percent higher compared to 1,794 cases and 11 deaths recorded in the same period in 2018.

With the start of the summer season, Alonsabe advised the residents to clean their water containers on a weekly basis.

“Our advisory for them is to clean water containers on a weekly basis para indi magsupot ang lamok. The more nga naga-store ka tubig, damo pamugadan sang lamok,” he said.

Alonsabe emphasized that water stored in containers should be utilized for a maximum of three days. 

“Supposedly ang storage sang tubig, at least three days kinahanglan maubos mo na siya and i-replace mo siya bag-o,” he said.

Alonsabe said they expect the number of dengue cases to drop especially during school break.

The transmission of dengue-carrying mosquito is high especially in classrooms, he added.

“Hopefully manubo kay wala klase kay usually kun may klase, madasig ang transmission, because once infected na sang dengue ang lamok, dasig siya maglapta,” he said. 

Based on data from DOH-6, Negros Occidental has the highest recorded number of dengue cases at 1,450 followed by Iloilo province (757), Aklan (635), Capiz (571), Iloilo City (366), Antique (96), and Guimaras (67).

Negros Occidental also has the highest number of recorded deaths with 14 followed by Iloilo City and Aklan with three deaths each.