By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Department of Health-Region VI (DOH-6) released a report last week reporting a 64 percent drop in the number of cases in the region.

DOH-6 family, health, and nutrition cluster head, Dr. Reynilyn Reyes, said between January 1 and November 26 of this year, there were a total of 9,279 dengue cases in the region, which resulted in just under 70 deaths. This figure is lower than the 25,461 recorded during the same period last year.

However, Negros Occidental registered the highest cases for this year, with 3,829 patients.

Reyes explained dengue cases in the region have seen increases every three years, noting such a trend in 2010, 2013, and 2016.

“Since the cases have decreased this year, we are predicting a decrease in dengue cases in 2018,” she explained.

Reyes added, health authorities will be strictly monitoring the number of cases in 2019 due to the three-year trend./DGB, WDJ