Dengue cases rise in Negros Occidental
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BACOLOD CITY — Health officials have urged Negrenses to intensify cleanup efforts as dengue cases in Iloilo surged by 322.49 percent over the past five months.
The Negros Occidental Provincial Health Office reported 1,897 dengue cases with seven deaths from Jan. 1 to May 10, 2025, compared to 449 cases during the same period last year.
Dr. Girlie Pinongan, provincial health officer, said the highest number of dengue cases was recorded among those aged 11 to 20 years old.
Bago City recorded the highest number of dengue cases at 383, followed by Kabankalan City with 175, La Carlota City with 158, San Carlos City with 109, and Silay City with 101.
Authorities warned that the onset of the rainy season could worsen the dengue cases.
“Mosquitoes that are dengue carriers breed in stagnant water, which must be removed,” Pinongan said.
In 2024, Negros Occidental reported 6,799 dengue cases, which were 354.48 percent higher than in 2023. There were also 22 deaths in the province due to dengue in 2024.
Pinongan said government and private hospitals and rural health units were full last year because of the rise in dengue patients.
Additional beds and wards had to be set up, and the provincial government needed to open dengue fast lanes in all its health facilities.
To avoid another surge in dengue cases, Pinongan advised persons with symptoms of the mosquito-borne ailment to immediately seek medical help at their nearest health facilities.
She also stressed the need for cleanup drives to remove breeding places of mosquitoes that are dengue carriers.
The Department of Health earlier reminded the public to intensify dengue control measures, emphasizing the need to search and destroy mosquito breeding sites, secure self-protection, seek early consultation, and support fogging in hotspot areas.
Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne viral infection caused by the dengue virus, primarily transmitted through the bites of infected Aedes mosquitoes.
Symptoms include high fever, severe headaches, pain behind the eyes, joint and muscle pain, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, and a skin rash.
In severe cases, the disease can progress to life-threatening conditions marked by severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, bleeding, blood in bodily excretions, and breathing difficulties./mcm/abc
