The Negros Occidental provincial board approved Wednesday the release of a P2-million fund for the dengue prevention and control treatment program of the Provincial Health Office as cases reached the epidemic threshold level in the province.
Second district board member Salvador Escalante, chairman of the committee on appropriations, budget, finance, ways and means, said the fund will allow the PHO to take measures against the deadly disease.
PHO records show that from January 1 to August 27 this year, the province saw 3,431 dengue cases, 196 percent higher than the 1,158 cases reported in the same period last year.
A total of 16 deaths were reported in Negros Occidental and eight in Bacolod City.
Provincial health officer Ernell Tumimbang said that although the dengue incidence has reached the epidemic level, it is not yet alarming.
“We’re making necessary interventions. If it’s beyond control, even with the conduct of emergency fogging and larvicide treatment, then that’s the time we prepare for the worst-case scenario,” Tumimbang said.
He added that they will continue with the emergency fogging and larvicide treatment in localities with high dengue prevalence.
Most of the cases were reported in Silay City (339), followed by Bago City (281), Himamaylan City (275), Kabankalan City (247), Cauayan (246), Isabela (199), La Carlota City (149) San Carlos City (146) and Hinoba-an (108).
In Bacolod, 770 dengue cases were reported from January to August 27, an increase of 162.5 percent from the 2015 incidence, records of the City Health Office show.
From July to August 27, eight deaths were reported, all young children aged two to 10 years.