Dumaguete tops dengue cases in Negros Oriental

CEBU, Philippines - Dumaguete City has the highest number of dengue cases in the top 10 list of towns and cities in Negros Oriental, as of September 24, this year.

Current records from the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit of the Department of Health-Negros Island Regional Office-18 showed that, from January 1 to September 24, Dumaguete City had 481 dengue cases plus one death.

For the same period this year,other areas in Negros Oriental in the top 10 list are: Bais City with 453 cases and six deaths; Siaton (289 cases); Bayawan City (281 cases and one death); Sibulan (191 cases); Bindoy (167 cases); Mabinay (163 cases plus one death); Sta. Catalina (150 cases); Valencia (116 cases and one death); and Bacong (110 cases).

The DOH-NIR records also showed that other areas with dengue-related deaths are Guihulngan City with three, Tanjay City with two, and Ayungon town with one.

Data from the DOH-NIR as of September 24 revealed that a total of 3,305 dengue cases and 16 deaths were recorded and reported from all over Negros Oriental.

This represented a 183 percent increase in the number of dengue cases this year compared to the same period last year, which had 1,166 cases and eight deaths, the DOH-NIR report revealed.

Majority of the cases this year were from Dumaguete City (14.6 percent), followed by Bais City (13.9 percent), Siaton (8.7 percent), Bayawan City (8.5 percent) and Sibulan (5.9 percent).

Ages of dengue cases ranged from one month to 95 years old, with male percentage higher at 52.4 percent than female. Most of those affected were under 21 years old and above years age group (28.8 percent), according to the DOH-NIR. (FREEMAN)