ALTHOUGH not yet in the alarming stage, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Ernell Tumimbang confirmed Thursday, May 5, that the number of dengue cases in Negros Occidental is increasing as compared to last year.Tumimbang also said that dengue cases in the province could not be considered an epidemic yet since it is still below the 500 threshold.As of Thursday, dengue cases in Negros Occidental is already more than 200, Provincial Health Office records showed, as it continue to monitor the situation.Last month, the Department of Health (DOH) in Western Visayas reported that from January 1 to April 16, 2022, Negros Occidental recorded a total of 238 dengue cases.The record is 56 percent more compared to the same period last year, and is the biggest increase to date among the provinces in Western Visayas.The province has also recorded a total of two fatalities due to the mosquito-borne disease.