Negros Oriental logs lowest number of cases in 10 years
The province of Negros Oriental has recorded last year its lowest number of dengue cases within a 10-year period.
Records obtained by the Philippine News Agency from the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (RESU) of the Department of Health (DOH) in Dumaguete City showed that Negros Oriental logged 772 dengue cases from Jan. 1 to Dec. 25, 2021.
Dr. Socrates Villamor, DOH provincial health chief who retired on Jan. 1, is hopeful that even if more dengue cases were added during the remaining six days of the past year, the 2021 figures would still be the lowest in 10 years.
DOH records showed that in 2012, there were 3,437 dengue cases reported in the province, 3,520 cases in 2013, 1,482 in 2014, 2,211 in 2015, 5,760 in 2016, 2,168 in 2017, 2,978 in 2018, 6,631 in 2019, and 2,483 in 2020.
Villamor said the onslaught of Typhoon Odette in the Visayas on Dec. 16, 2021 could trigger dengue infections, especially in areas that were flooded.
The former DOH provincial chief said that the drop in dengue cases in 2020 and 2021 was highly attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The onslaught of Typhoon Odette in the Visayas late last year could trigger dengue infections, especially in areas that were flooded.
“Because of quarantine restrictions and especially the absence of face-to-face classes in schools, there was very little exposure of people, thus transmission of the dengue virus was contained,” he said in mixed English and Cebuano.
For the year 2021, Negros Oriental also reported zero mortality due to dengue as of Dec. 25 and, with hope, there would be no late reporting of any deaths for the past year.
The top five cities and municipalities with the highest dengue cases last year were Dumaguete with 170, Guihulngan City with 93, Siaton with 84, Tanjay City with 58, and Bais City with 52. (PNA)