By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The number of dengue cases in the Negros Island Region (NIR) has risen by two percent from the same period last year, according to Department of Health-NIR (DOH-NIR) director, Dr. Emilia Monicimpo.
In an interview over the weekend with Bombo Radyo-Bacolod, she said there are currently 1,203 recorded dengue cases in Negros Occidental, up from 1,174 last year.
This year, 13 in the province have died from the viral disease, five of which were from Bacolod City.
Monicimpo, however, said residents should not be alarmed and urged locals to clean their surroundings in order to avoid contracting the disease.
Last week, the Provincial Health Office (PHO) said the number of dengue deaths in the province has more than doubled compared to last year.
PHO chief, Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, said they are in the process of forming a dengue review team to study why the number of deaths has increased./WDJ