Himamaylan City tops dengue list

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Himamaylan City in southern Negros Occidental has the highest number of dengue cases in the province based on data released by the Provincial Health Office (PHO).

The PHO’s monitoring record for Morbidity Week No. 24 as of June 18 revealed that Himamaylan City has 142 dengue cases with one fatality.

Also on the list are Kabankalan City (118), San Carlos City (111), Hinigaran (107 with one fatality), and La Carlota City (92 cases with one death).

The PHO added in its surveillance report that dengue cases in the province increased by 557.79 percent or 1,110 cases more compared to the same period last year.

Meanwhile, the local government units with the least number of dengue cases are Victorias City (9), E.B. Magalona and Don Salvador Benedicto (6 cases each), and La Castellana (5).

Victorias City also recorded the biggest reduction in dengue cases with a 43.75 percent decrease compared to the same period last year when they recorded 16 cases.

PHO head Dr. Ernell Tumimbang said the province’s dengue cases is now an immediate concern.

“We are trying to expedite our response in order to prevent the province’s dengue situation from further escalating,” he said.

Tumimbang said entomological surveillance continues in the province’s 31 towns and cities, particularly destroying places where dengue-carrying mosquitoes could breed.