BACOLOD CITY, Philippines — A total of 15 deaths from dengue were recorded in Negros Occidental since January this year, with a 6-year-old boy from this city as the latest fatality.
Bacolod City Health Office reported that John David Anema of Brgy. 34 in Bacolod died from dengue last week while being treated at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital in this city.
Assistant City Health Officer Jovy Vergara said Anema was the fifth fatality in the city alone, while Barangays Tangub, Felisa, Taculing and Bata have recorded one death each.
Records of the BCHO showed that, from January to June this year, there had been 1,489 cases of dengue in this city. This is 819.14 percent higher compared to the same period last year with only 162 cases, the office said.
Outside of Bacolod, the Provincial Healh Office recorded a total of 10 deaths from dengue in Negros Occidental. Talisay City and Murcia have two dengue cases each; and one each in the cities of Victorias, Silay, Bago, Himamaylan and Sagay and in the municipality of Calatrava.
The same records show that there were 2,511 dengue cases in Negros Occidental from January 1 to June 22, which is 717 percent higher than the 307 cases in the same period last year, with only three fatalities.
The PHO has been pushing for the reactivation of Barangay Dengue Task Force in all 662 barangays of Negros Occidental to combat dengue.
Provincial Health Officer Ernell Tumimbang said the Barangay Dengue Task Force plays an important role in containing the upsurge of dengue cases because of the barangay’s active role in terms of awareness.
“Through this, we can monitor and address the problem in the local level,†he said. (FREEMAN)