World · Philippines Bureau
Negros dengue deaths climb to 36 despite case decline
The Negros Island Region recorded 36 dengue-related deaths this year even as overall infections fell 18 percent, the Department of Health reported. The decline in cases masks a troubling rise in mortality rates among dengue patients.
LSN Philippines ·
BACOLOD CITY – Health authorities in the Negros Island Region are grappling with a paradoxical trend: while dengue cases have dropped significantly, fatalities from the mosquito-borne illness continue to mount.
The Department of Health reported Tuesday that 36 people have died from dengue-related complications in the region so far this year. This comes despite a notable 18 percent reduction in confirmed cases, with 6,406 infections recorded between January 1 and October 10, compared to 7,859 cases during the identical period last year.
The diverging trends suggest that while prevention efforts may be containing transmission rates, the cases that do occur are becoming more severe. Health officials did not immediately explain the spike in mortality, though dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome – the more dangerous variants – can prove fatal if not treated promptly.
The Negros Island Region comprises Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental provinces. Health authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant about dengue prevention measures, including eliminating mosquito breeding grounds and seeking immediate medical attention for fever symptoms.