August proved to be the most deadly month for dengue as the mosquito-borne killer claimed four lives throughout the Province of Negros Oriental.{{more}}
Data from the Provincial Health Team Office of the Department of Health said that there was one fatality each in Dumaguete City and the towns of Pamplona, Bacong and Vallehermoso.
These fatalities added up to seven the total number of fatalities from dengue starting in January.
Pacholo Alcantara, surveillance officer of the Provincial Health Team Office of the Department of Health, said that as of Friday, there were 773 dengue cases recorded throughout the province.
But Dr. Felix Sy, head of the Metropolitan Health Team covering the towns of San Jose, Sibulan, Bacong, Valencia, Dauin and the City of Dumaguete, said that the total of dengue cases this year are actually lower than last year’s figure for the same period.
Dengue cases from January to August last year reached 852. Dr. Sy said that according to Dr. Socrates Villamor, chief of the Provincial Epidemiology Surveillance Unit of the DOH, cannot declare an epidemic because the total number of dengue cases has not exceeded last year’s figure.
Sy said that based on their census, a total of 175 dengue cases have been recorded in Dumaguete City, 93 in Sibulan, 41 in Bacong, 15 each in Dauin and Valencia, 14 in San Jose and 10 in Amlan.
While the figures for Negros Oriental were in the triple digits, the neighboring province of Negros Occidental had four-digit figures, earning it the distinction of having the most number of dengue cases throughout the country.
Negros Occidental recorded 4,087 cases from January to August 21, or an increase by 416 percent over last year with 24 deaths.
The number of dengue cases nationwide from January to August 21 was 62,503. This figure is 88.8 percent higher than last year’s 33,102 for the same period, the Department of Health said.
There were 465 deaths recorded nationwide this year, while there were 350 last year, it added.
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