Guv raises alert on dengue

NEGROS Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has issued an executive order yesterday declaring a heightened alert amid the rising number of dengue cases in the province.

Lacson said the province has already reached the “alert threshold” and the provincial government wants to avoid the “epidemic threshold.”

“It is still far off at the moment, but still we just want to raise the alert level for every local government unit,” the governor said.

The public “should go back to basics and practice cleanliness in their local communities,” he pointed out.

Lacson said he also met with Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor, Jr., during the Governor’s League General Assembly and he explained no matter what the people will do the number of dengue cases are expected to “spike” every three years.

“Even if we religiously do the protocol, we can still expect that there will be a spike,” he said.

However, Lacson said they cannot use it as an excuse.

He added that the Capitol-operated district hospitals and the provincial hospital “are fully prepared.”

“I have not received any complaints of any hospital denying any dengue-related patients for treatment,” he also said.

Data from the PHO showed that as of June this year, there was a 73 percent increase in dengue cases in the province.

Between January and

June of this year, a total of 2,800 dengue cases were already recorded; an increase of 1,600 cases compared to the same period last year.

Records showed the highest number of cases were reported in Kabankalan City, San Carlos City, Bago City, Cadiz City, and Cauayan.

PHO also noted there were 10 fatalities this year, five of which were recorded in Cadiz City, the highest of any local government unit in Negros Occidental.

Meanwhile, Lacson also confirmed reports that there is currently a “shortage of blood supply” in the province.

“We need donors and we are calling out to qualified donors,” Lacson said.

He further added he plans to organize a “bloodletting” activity for provincial government employees to increase blood supply.

We will wait for the recommendation of the Provincial Health Office (PHO), Lacson said.*