By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Negros Occidental Provincial Health Office (PHO) has recorded fatalities due to waterborne diseases, such as leptospirosis, cholera and dengue in the province.

Dr. Girlie Pinongan, PHO officer-in-charge, said nine leptospirosis deaths were recorded since January, of which Murcia town logged four cases, Silay City with two; and one each in Don Salvador Benedicto town and the cities of Kabankalan and Sipalay.

Earlier, Pinongan said a total of 93 suspected leptospirosis cases were recorded since January of this year, higher by 3.3 percent compared to last year.

However, the cases are only “suspected,” as patients have exhibited symptoms of leptospirosis.

Meanwhile, the health office has also reported four cholera deaths this year.

Records show that Negros Occidental had nine confirmed and 43 suspected cholera cases.

The most cases were from the 20 to 30 age group.

For dengue, the province reported 793 cases and six deaths in Negros Occidental from January 1 to July 29.

San Carlos City has 105 dengue cases with two fatalities, while Calatrava town and the cities of Himamaylan, Silay and Bago reported one fatality each.

Bago City recorded 84 cases, while Silay has 58, and Talisay City with 47.

Dengue cases in the province dropped by 74.62 percent, or 2,331 cases this year, compared to 3,124 in the same period in 2022.

Most of the dengue cases were children aged one to 11 years old, while the oldest patient was 91 years old./DGB, WDJ