Dengue fast lanes activated in Negros Occ.

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY – Provincial Health Officer Dr. Girlie Pinongan said dengue fast lanes in all district hospitals and rural health units in the province were activated after a noted increase in dengue cases.

However, she noted that despite the increase, dengue cases remain below the alert level threshold.

The PHO reported that dengue cases increased by 75 percent, with six deaths, in the first seven months of the year compared to the same period in 2023.

The province recorded 1,520 dengue cases from January to August 3 this year, compared to 867 cases in the same period last year, an increase of 75.32 percent.

Pinongan disclosed that all Capitol-managed hospitals are full of dengue patients. She added that even private hospitals are now “flooded” with dengue patients.

Sipalay City recorded the most dengue cases at 148, followed by Hinobaan with 130 and Kabankalan City with 105 cases.

Government hospital chiefs were asked to add more beds and set up additional wards for dengue patients if space allows, Pinongan said.

She noted that the age group with the most cases is one to 10 years old.

Pinongan called on Negrenses to clean their surroundings by removing stagnant water, which serves as a breeding ground for mosquitoes.