COTABATO CITY — Cases of dengue infection in the nine towns of Maguindanao have spiked with the local health official describing the situation as “alarming”.

“The (dengue) situation in the province is currently very alarming,” said Dr. Tahir Sulaik chief of the Integrated Provincial Health Office.

669 dengue cases were recorded for the first half of this year compared to 393 cases during the same period last year. Most victims this year are students mostly from the nine towns of the province.

Sultan Mastura had three casualties, Parang had two while thetowns of Barira, Datu Odin Sinsuat, Datu Paglas, and South Upi registered one fatality.

Datu Odin Sinsuat town has highest number of dengue cases at 128, followed by Sultan Mastura (77), Upi (73), Parang (67), Buluan (34), Talayan (24), Matanog (20), Shariff Aguak (17), and South Upi (15). (Rommel F. Lopez)