THE Department of Health office in Central Visayas (DoH-7) said that dengue fever cases continued to rise in the region, with the death toll reaching 18 and the number of cases climbing to 6,968 as of Wednesday.

DoH-7 representative Dr. Ronald Jarvik Buscato announced the "alarming" figures during a news forum.

He said the number is 95 percent higher than the cases recorded in the same period last year.

Buscato stressed the urgent need for heightened public awareness and preventive measures to combat the spread of the mosquito-borne virus.

The figure was taken from the different provinces of Central Visayas, including Bohol and Cebu. It also included the newly separated Siquijor and Negros Oriental, which are now part of the Negros Island Region.

Dengue fever, caused by the dengue virus transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, presents symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, joint and muscle pain, rash, and mild bleeding.

Severe cases can lead to dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome, which can be fatal.

Buscato said that the ages of those affected range from two months to 98 years, with a median age of 10 years.

The doctor attributed the rise in dengue cases to climate change and the extreme heat during the summer months, which prompted people to store water.

Earlier, he explained that mosquito metabolism speeds up during the summer, causing them to eat more frequently and lay more eggs.

Buscato said that hot weather creates an ideal environment for mosquitoes, as they thrive at temperatures between 27 to 32 degrees Celsius, allowing them to live longer.

He urged residents to clean their surroundings, eliminate stagnant water where mosquitoes breed, and seek medical attention at the first sign of dengue symptoms.

Residents were advised to remain vigilant, use mosquito repellents, wear long sleeves and pants.