W. Visayas logs 5 more dengue-related deaths

BACOLOD CITY – Five more dengue-related deaths have been recorded in Western Visayas as cases are seen to breach the 7,000 mark, the regional office of the Department of Health reported yesterday.

The latest fatalities brought the number of dengue-related deaths in the region to 37, with 674 new cases recorded from July 10 to 16.

The new cases increased the number of infections to 6,856 from January to July 16, which is higher than the 1,199 cases recorded in the same period last year.

The additional five fatalities were recorded in the provinces of Antique with two, and one each in Iloilo and Negros Occidental as well as in Bacolod City.

Of the 674 newly reported dengue cases, Negros Occidental logged 230 infections.

The figure brought to 2,445 the total number of cases in the province, or an increase of 910 percent from the 233 infections recorded last year.

Antique follows Negros Occidental

with 1,731 cases.

Data showed the province of Iloilo posted 1,228 cases; Capiz, 370; Aklan, 291, and Guimaras, 100.

The cities of Bacolod and Iloilo logged 398 and 293 dengue cases, respectively.

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said he is expecting the cases to rise further in August and September due to the rainy season.

During a Zoom meeting with city and municipal health officers in 31 local government units, Lacson

said he was informed by the provincial health office that dengue cases in the 10 LGUs that posted the highest number of infections are now on a downward trend.

Lacson said this showed that city and municipal health offices were not remiss in their task of fighting dengue. He said the provincial government allocated funds to combat the disease.

Health officers admitted receiving assistance to address the problem in their respective areas.