Guimaras recorded the highest number of dengue cases in all provinces and highly-urbanized cities in Western Visayas the Department of Health – Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD) Region 6 said Monday.
According to the data shared by Josef Alexander Denila, senior health program officer of DOH-CHD 6, the island-province of Guimaras had a 1,075 percent dengue attack rate on the 37th morbidity week covering the Jan. 1 to Sept. 7 period.
“Guimaras has the highest attack rate and the highest increase of dengue cases,” Denila said.
Attack rate pertains to the number of people who contracted the disease vis-à-vis the total population of an area.
Guimaras recorded 53 new cases during the recent 36th morbidity week, surging the total number to 1,977 dengue cases with four fatalities.
Included in the top 20 villages with the most number of cases in Western Visayas were Cabano village in San Lorenzo town and Poblacion village in Jordan town, all in Guimaras.
Western Visayas posted a total of 46,681 dengue cases with 204 fatalitis during the 36th morbidity week.
Other than the province of Guimaras, other provinces also declared high cases of dengue. Aklan recorded 4,975 cases with 20 fatalities; followed by Antique with 2,198 cases with 10 fatalities; Capiz has 5,715 cases with 23 fatalities; Iloilo has 19,005 cases with 70 fatalities; Iloilo City has 2,720 cases with 16 fatalities; Negros Occidental has 7,963 cases with 52 fatalities; and Bacolod City has 1,873 cases with eight fatalities while there are 255 cases and one death not specified in which town or city.
Supplies and logistics were continuously provided by the DOH-CHD to prevent dengue, as shared by Dr. Rosemarie Lamirez, DOH-6 medical coordinator.
“Maybe we need more of the commitment of the residents, coordination of the community because in the region and in the province, it all boils down to the participation of everyone,” she added.
Lamirez urges the people of Western Visayas to remain vigilant especially this rainy season, which is the main factor to the multiplying cases related to the disease.
However, Dr. Jessie Glenn Alonsabe, head of the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, stated that the region still could not lift the dengue outbreak status. (RJ Espartinez)