The Negros Occidental Provincial Health Office (PHO) will intensify its campaign against dengue, as it expressed alarm over the surge of cases in the province.

PHO head Dr. Girlie Pinongan said the clustering of dengue cases in local government units in the southern part of the province is alarming.

The rise has been linked to stagnant water in canals, which has allowed mosquitoes to breed.

Pinongan said they are focusing on their efforts to combat dengue in the localities, particularly in Hinoba-an town and Sipalay City, as more patients were hospitalized.

They have already advised chief executives in local government units to set up sanitation interventions to prevent cases from surging further.

Pinongan said dengue fast lanes in hospitals have been reactivated to make it easier and faster to treat patients.

Health officials are urging residents to take immediate action to prevent a surge in dengue cases in the province.

Based on PHO’s data from January 1 to July 19, the province recorded a total of 874 dengue cases.

This was 17.7 percent higher than the recorded 742 cases in the same period last year, according to data.

Three individuals, mostly children, have died of dengue.

The majority of cases were children aged one to 10 years old.

The cities of Sipalay, Cadiz, San Carlos, Silay, Kabankalan, Talisay, Victorias, and Sagay, as well as the municipalities of Hinoba-an and Cauayan recorded the most number of cases.

Meanwhile, in capital Bacolod City, dengue cases decreased by 17.3 percent from January to July of this year.

A total of 206 cases with two deaths were recorded, which was lower compared to the 249 cases logged in the same period last year./WDJ