ILOILO City – Cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever in Western Visayas continue to rise. In just a week 266 new cases were reported, with one death.
Data from the Department of Health (DOH) – Dengue and Malaria Program showed these new cases were recorded from May 15 to 21 – the highest newly reported dengue cases in the region since Jan. 2022.
Data also showed Negros Occidental with the highest number of newly reported cases (96), followed by Antique (84) and Iloilo province (39).
Other new-reported cases were from Capiz (14), Bacolod City (12), Aklan (eight), Iloilo City (six), Guimaras (six), and one from another region but was detected in Region 6.
For the said week also, one death was reported in Sibalom, Antique, bringing the region’s total dengue deaths to 20 and the total cases in the region at 1,693 (as of May 21).
There is also a 110 percent increase in total dengue cases in the region this year compared to 808 cases in the same period last year.
The province of Negros Occidental has the highest total cases in the region with 657 followed by Antique with 400, Iloilo province with 262, Bacolod City with 139, Capiz with 104, Aklan with 54, Iloilo City with 50, Guimaras with 21 and six from other regions but detected in Western Visayas.
Negros Occidental posted highest increase in cases so far this year (282 percent), followed by Antique with 148 percent increase, and Iloilo province with 77 percent.
Notable increase in cases was also seen in Aklan (39%), Guimaras (75%), and Bacolod City (72% ) while there was a 52 percent decrease in dengue cases in Iloilo City.
Meanwhile, Iloilo province has the highest dengue deaths with 6 followed by Negros Occidental with 5, Bacolod City 4, Antique 3, and one each from Aklan and Iloilo City.
Capiz and Guimaras have zero dengue-related deaths.
On the other hand, the DOH central office reported a significant decrease in the number of cumulative dengue cases in the country from January 1 to May 7, 2022.
In a news release, citing a report from Epidemiology Bureau (EB), the health department said a six percent decrease has been recorded – from 27,010 last year, down to 25,268 this year for the said period.
Weekly dengue case counts in 2022 were also significantly lower, except from March 20 to April 30, also known as Morbidity Weeks 12 to 17, with 11,435 dengue cases reported, which is 94% higher than the cases reported during the same specific time period in 2021 (5,901).
EB observed that Regions II, VII, VIII, IX, X,XI, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) are the areas contributing to the increase of dengue cases in the recent morbidity weeks.
Cumulatively, most dengue cases were reported from Region VII at 13% (3,198 cases), Region III at 12% (3,087 cases), and Region IX at 10% (2,522).
In the most recent reported period, from April 10 to May 7, 2022 where 6,622 cases were reported, most of the cases were also from the same regions with Region IX making up 14% (908 cases), Region VII at 13% (881 cases), and Region III at 9% (593).
To avoid the continuous increase in dengue cases, the DOH reminds the public of the need to practice the following 4S behaviors, which stands for search and destroy breeding places, secure self-protection, seek early consultation, and support fogging/spraying in hotspot areas – especially as the country is experiencing the rainy season.
“As the rainy season approaches, many diseases spread – and one of those is dengue. We are taking proactive actions in preventing outbreaks and raising awareness to curb the increase in the number of cases. Rest assured that the DOH is closely monitoring every disease trend, and is well-prepared to respond to any healthcare aid any Juan or Juana may need,” said Dr. Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire, undersecretary of Health./PN
