Five deaths as dengue cases rise in Negros Or

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines – The number of dengue cases in Negros Oriental province continued on a steep incline this year with already five deaths reported and a total of 1,283 cases from January 01 to September 01, according to records of the Provincial Health Office.

The Provincial Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit of the PHO on Tuesday released its latest dengue update covering the 35th morbidity week, from August 26 to September 1, stating that the rise in cases is 70 percent higher than the same period last year of 384 cases and zero deaths.

Dumaguete topped the list of the top ten towns and cities with the highest number of dengue cases at 518 with three deaths, two of which were reported in August and another last July. Two other fatalities were in Sibulan town last January and Bacong town last May, said a report of the Department of Health provincial office.

Bayawan City ranked 2nd in the list with 152 cases, followed by Siaton with 73, Tanjay City, 61; Bais City, 55; Sibulan, 53; Basay, 42; Dauin, 41; Sta. Catalina, 39; and Valencia, 32.

The PHO report covers all the district hospitals in the province while the DOH’s provincial health team office gathers data from the three sentinel hospitals in Dumaguete, namely, the Silliman University Medical Center, the Holy Child Hospital and the Negros Oriental Provincial Hospital.

The provincial DOH’s findings on dengue admissions from the three hospitals listed 907 cases or an increase of 188 percent over last year’s total dengue cases from January 01 to September 01.  – THE FREEMAN