More than 200 new dengue cases logged in W. Visayas in a week

By Joseph B.A. Marzan

The Department of Health-Western Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH-WV CHD) on Monday reported that the region logged 266 new dengue cases recently, the highest so far this year.

Negros Occidental reported the highest number of new cases between May 15 to 21 with 96, followed by Antique (84), Iloilo province (39), Capiz (14), Bacolod City (12), Aklan (8), and Guimaras and Iloilo City (6 each).

One of the new cases detected in the region is from another region.

A resident of Sibalom, Antique became the latest dengue-related fatality, pushing the regional death toll to 20.

With these new cases, the total number of dengue cases in the region so far this year is now at 1,693, which is 110 percent higher than the 808 cases recorded in the same period last year.

Negros Occidental province also recorded the highest rise in dengue cases compared to the same period last year (282 percent), followed by Antique (148 percent), Iloilo province (77 percent), Guimaras (75 percent), Bacolod City (72 percent), Aklan (39 percent), and Capiz (2 percent).

Only Iloilo City showed a downward trend in dengue cases, logging 52 percent less cases this year than in the same period last year.

As to the number of total cases per area, Negros Occidental still has the highest (657) Antique (400), Iloilo province (262), Bacolod City (139), Capiz (104), Aklan (54), Iloilo City, and Guimaras (21), while 6 persons from other regions were detected here.

Iloilo province has the most number of deaths (6), followed by Negros Occidental (5), Bacolod City (4), Antique (3), and Aklan and Iloilo City (1 each). Capiz and Guimaras have not yet logged any dengue death.

The DOH-WV CHD also noted that its case logs are still subject to change to include delayed reports and further validation of existing cases.