By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Provincial Health Office (PHO) in Negros Occidental has ordered all hospitals in the province to activate their dengue fast lanes as the number of cases continues to increase.

PHO head Dr. Ernell Tumimbang said all patients who show symptoms or were already diagnosed with dengue should be given priority for treatment.

But Tumimbang also said at present it is currently not yet necessary to declare a dengue outbreak in the province.

Based on PHO’s monitoring from January 1 to May 21 of this year, dengue cases in Negros Occidental had already reached 670, a 278.83 percent increase compared to 177 cases recorded in the same period last year.

The PHO had already sounded the alarm after dengue cases breached the 500 mark earlier this month.

The PHO has also activated an anti-dengue task force to deal with the rising cases.

Dengue causes a severe flu-like illness that could sometimes be fatal. Its carriers are day-biting mosquitoes.

According to the World Health Organization, individuals should suspect dengue when a high fever (40 degrees centigrade) is accompanied by two of the following symptoms: severe headache, pain behind the eyes, nausea/vomiting, swollen glands, muscle and joint pains, and rashes.

For severe dengue, the warning signs to look out for are severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, rapid breathing, bleeding gums, blood in vomit, fatigue, and restlessness./DGB, WDJ