The number of dengue cases in Western Visayas (WV) has reached more than 12,000, with 24 deaths, the latest data from the Department of Health (DOH-6) showed yesterday.

DOH-6 recorded 12,198 dengue cases for this year, a 142 percent increase compared to the recorded cases in the same period last year, which was only 5,036.

From August 4 to 10, DOH-6 recorded 2,010 new cases with four additional deaths.

Iloilo province recorded the highest number of dengue cases, with 5,594 cases and eight deaths, followed by Negros Occidental (2,158 cases and six deaths), Aklan (1,683 cases with one death), Capiz (1,419 cases with three deaths), Iloilo City (902 cases with three deaths), Antique (881 cases with one death), Bacolod City (542 cases with one confirmed death and two suspected dengue deaths), and Guimaras (222 cases with one death).

A total of 660 barangays in Western Visayas have a clustering of cases.

Most of those infected with dengue are between the ages of 11 and 20.

The DOH-6 is intensifying its campaign against dengue in the villages.

The health department is also urging schools in the region to form a dengue task force to focus on dengue prevention among students./WDJ