The Aedes aegypti mosquito that carries the dengue virus.
The provinces of Capiz and Guimaras in Western Visayas have declared a dengue outbreak, following Iloilo Province days earlier, amid mounting cases of the mosquito-borne virus.
Capiz has recorded 2,177 dengue cases with 14 deaths in the first half of the year. Guimaras Island had 493 cases and two deaths during the same period.
Capiz and Guimaras had only 250 and 43 cases, respectively, in the same period last year.
Iloilo Province declared a dengue outbreak after more than 3,800 cases were recorded since January.
Samuel Gumarin, the governor of Guimaras, signed Executive Order 36 on July 12, declaring an outbreak and the creation of a Dengue Crisis Management Task Force to stem the rise of dengue cases.
The declaration of a dengue outbreak was the first executive order issued by Capiz Gov. Esteban Evan Contreras.
The order called for the “extension of free medical services and other essential assistance to dengue cases in all Capiz provincial and district hospitals.” (PressONE.ph)