NegOr logs over 2K dengue cases; up 14% vs. last year

DUMAGUETE: Dengue cases in Negros Oriental rose significantly in the first eight months this year compared to the same period last year, a health official said Tuesday. Dr. Liland Estacion, the Provincial Health Office (PHO) chief, said the latest weekly report showed that from Jan. 1 to Aug. 10 this year, the province logged 2,253 cases, with six deaths. 'This is 142 percent higher than last year's figures of 479 cases with no deaths for the same period,' Estacion told the Philippine News Agency. PHO records showed that the areas with the most cases were Guihulngan City, 262; Bayawan City, 212; Dumaguete City, 168; Bais City, 165; Mabinay, 163; Tanjay City, 146; Vallehermoso, 124; and La Libertad, 121. The rest of the towns and cities had less than 100 cases. Deaths due to dengue shock syndrome included a patient each from the towns of Sibulan, Ayungon, Bacong, and Dumaguete City and two from Bayawan City, who all died while in the hospital. They were aged between 8 and 32, with the latest case reported last Aug. 7. Meanwhile, Estacion called on the public to strengthen anti-dengue measures, especially in the schools at the onset of the rainy season and the upcoming La Niña. PHO has distributed NS1 (dengue nonstructural protein 1) antigen testing kits to various health centers, which are free to the public. Estacion said they will also conduct spatial spraying to prevent dengue cases. Source: Philippines News Agency