Dengue cases in Negros Occidental from January to August this year were up 80.84 percent, compared to the same period last year, with one death reported, Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, Negros Occidental provincial health officer, said yesterday.

In Bacolod City, dengue cases were lower by 47 this year compared to last year with one death reported, Dr. Carmela Gensoli, City Health Office OIC, said.

She said that, from January to August this year, there were 144 dengue cases reported in Bacolod compared to 269 last year.

A 6-year-old female from Barangay Singcang, Bacolod City, who is originally from Murcia, also died from dengue in the first week of August, she added.

In Negros Occidental, 774 dengue cases were reported from January 1 to August 15 this year compared to 428 in the same period last year.

Tumimbang said the rise in dengue cases in Negros Occidental is not alarming yet, as it has not hit the epidemic threshold.

Among the cities in Negros Occidental, Bago had the most dengue cases from January to August 15 this year with 99 followed by Silay City with 78, Victorias City – 70, La Carlota City – 57 and Isabela – 42.

The municipalities with the most number of dengue cases were Cauayan, La Castellana, Isabela, Escalante and Hinobaan.

The ages of those hit by dengue ranged from 2 months old to 91 years old, with 411 males and 363 females, the PHO report showed.

The report also said 504 were hit by dengue fever, 262 by dengue hemorrhagic fever, and 8 by dengue shock syndrome.

Dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever are acute viral infections caused by the bite of an Aedes aegypti mosquito infected with any one of the four dengue viruses, a Department of Health advisory said.

It is transmitted by a day-biting mosquito called Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes that lay eggs in clear and stagnant water found in flower vases, cans, rain barrels, old rubber tires, and the adult mosquitoes rest in dark places of the house, the advisory added.

Signs and symptoms of dengue are the sudden onset of high fever which may last from 2 to 7 days, joint and muscle pain and pain behind the eyes, weakness, skin rashes, nose bleeding when fever starts to subside, abdominal pain, vomiting of coffee-colored matter, dark-colored stools, and difficulty of breathing, the advisory added.

Tumimbang and Gensoli said that as a preventive measure the 4-S against dengue should be implemented:

*Search and destroy by covering water drums and pails, replacing water in flower vases once a week, cleaning gutters of leaves and debris, collect and dispose all unusable tin cans, jars, bottles and other items that can collect and hold water;

*Self-protection measures by wearing long pants and long sleeved shirts, and using mosquito repellant;

*Seek early consultation by consulting doctors immediately if fever persists after two days and rashes appear; and

*Say yes to fogging when there is an impending outbreak or a hotspot.*CPG

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