Local News: In Negros Occidental: Measles Cases Alarming; Leptospirosis Up
The increase in measles cases in Negros Occidental this year is now alarming, as it has reached 244 cases compared to only 11 last year, a Provincial Health Office (PHO) report dated June 28, 2012 said.
From December 17, 2011 to June 28, 2012, a total of 244 cases were admitted to different private and public hospitals in Negros Occidental, the report added.
Negros Occidental has the most number of measles cases in Western Visayas, which has become alarming, Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, provincial health officer, said.
Kabankalan City topped the 31 local government units with the highest measles cases at 56, followed by Himamaylan City - 53, Binalbagan - 39, Bago City - 19, Moises Padilla - 16, Isabela - 13, La Castellana - 11, Valladolid - 11, and Ilog - 5, all in southern Negros Occidental, the PHO report revealed.
The leptospirosis cases in Negros Occidental also increased this year at 14 percent, or 56 cases this year compared to last year’s 49 cases. There are seven deaths this year, and eight deaths last year.
Sagay City, E. B. Magalona, Cadiz City, and Murcia topped the list of leptospirosis cases with six each, followed by Silay City - 4, Bago City - 3, and Victorias City - 3.
Meanwhile, dengue fever in Negros Occidental is 50 percent lower compared to last year.
From January 1 to June 23 this year, 282 cases of dengue fever were recorded with two fatalities, compared to 572 cases in 2011 with eight deaths, the report said.
The two deaths this year were in Talisay and Sagay cities. San Carlos City had 105 dengue cases, Bago City - 34, Calatrava - 14, Talisay City - 13, Silay City - 12, La Carlota City - 10, Victorias City - 10, Cadiz City - 8, Kabankalan City - 8, and Escalante City - 6.
The PHO also reported an 18-percent drop in typhoid cases in Negros Occidental this year compared to 2011.
There were 747 cases typhoid cases reported this year with five deaths compared to 921 cases in the same period in 2011, with 10 deaths.
The deaths recorded this year are in Sagay City, Cadiz City, Toboso, Moises Padilla and La Castellana with one each.
The areas hit by typhoid cases are Kabankalan City - 116, Sagay City - 75, San Carlos City - 48, Cadiz City - 46, Cauayan - 42, Escalante City - 41, Isabela - 36, Himamaylan - 31, Murcia - 31, La Carlota City - 27, Hinigaran - 15, Talisay City - 21, Binalbagan - 19, E.B. Magalona - 19;
Silay City - 19, Calatrava - 18, Victorias City - 18, Manapla - 17, Ilog - 14, Bago City - 13, Toboso - 13, Moises Padilla - 12, La Castellana - 10, Pontevedra - 8, Don Salvador Benedicto - 6, and Valladolid - 6.*(DBDangcalan)
