MikeLigalig.com

Negros Oriental has recorded at least a 28 percent increase in dengue cases in 2009, according to Dr. Socrates Villamor, Provincial Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (PESU) chief of the Department of Health (DOH).

A total of 1,538 cases were recorded in 2009, higher compared to 2008 with only 1,201 cases as shown the data monitoring record of the DOH in Negros Oriental.

According to Dr. Villamor, their records are coming from the reports of the different hospitals in the province which are collected and updated each month.

The record also showed a total of five deaths recorded in 2009 due to dengue disease. Six dengue deaths were recorded in 2008.

The top five local government units with dengue cases last year include Dumaguete City with 575, Sibulan, 185, Tanjay, 148, Dauin, 94 and Siaton, 59 cases.

Dr. Villamor said one of the contributory factors in the rise in dengues cases last year was the erratic weather patterns that brought more rains.

Dengue is a disease spread between humans through a mosquito carrier, the aedes aegypti, which are endemic to Negros Oriental. (PNA)