BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – The number of dengue-related fatalities in this metropolis has now risen to five, according to the latest report from the City Health Office (CHO).
This increase highlights the ongoing public health challenge posed by dengue in Iloilo City barely two days after the Iloilo City Council approved the resolution of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) placing the entire city under calamity due to the dengue outbreak.
The first fatality includes a 69-year-old woman from Jaro district, who died in July. The CHO recorded other fatalities including a four-year-old boy from Barangay South Fundidor in Molo district; a 28-year-old woman from Barangay Tacas, Jaro; and a nine-year-old boy from Barangay Sambag, Jaro.
The city health recorded the latest fatality – a 22-year-old woman from Barangay Fajardo in Jaro district, died a few hours after she was rushed to the hospital.
The CHO has recorded a total of 995 dengue cases in Iloilo City as of August 29, with 17 new cases reported recently.
With the rising numbers, the city health officials underscored the need for continued vigilance and preventive measures to control the spread of dengue in the city.
During their regular session on Aug. 28, the city councilors unanimously approved the CDRRMC resolution, which also sought for release of P7.04 million as a calamity fund to combat the outbreak more effectively.
The CDRRMC cited the data from the City Health Office (CHO) which reported a significant rise in dengue cases, with cases reaching 874, along with four fatalities during the passage of the ordinance.
The above figures represent a 50.9 percent increase in the number of dengue cases for the period January to August 2024 compared to the same period last year.
The number also corresponds to an attack rate of 189.82 percent per 100, 000 population, with one to 10-year-old children as the most affected age group.
“The current weather condition and the vulnerabilities of the communities and people in the barangays, it requires urgent need to declare an outbreak so that immediate assistance can be provided by the city government,” the CDRRMC resolution read.
With the declaration of a state of calamity, the city council also approved the utilization of a P7.04-million calamity fund to enable the implementation of intensified advocacy and response measures.
The health officials also recorded an increased number of cases compared to the previous year, or a 3-5 years average number of cases.
The Health and Sanitation Cluster also formulated an outbreak response plan to curb the spread of the outbreak, which includes advocacy, surveillance, immunization activities, proper treatment, and management and procurement of medicines and other commodities.
Before the declaration, the city health officials ramped up efforts to address the situation, including public health campaigns, knowing and seeking early consultation, and ensuring adequate medical care for those affected.
The city government is actively conducting a series of dialogues on dengue campaigns with barangays that have top cases of dengue.
City health officials emphasized that prevention and response measures and strategies should focus on regular and simultaneous cleanup to eliminate breeding places of mosquitoes starting from homes to the community.
Doctors also advised the public to get early medical checkups for two days when a fever occurs to get free tests for dengue at district health centers. Health officials also encourage using protective clothing and repellants for added self-protection.
The City Health Office has set up two hydration units at La Paz Health Center for the management of cases. CHO is also conducting misting operations in public schools, public places, and hotspots.
The 30-bed capacity hydration units are crucial in providing immediate care, particularly for those experiencing severe dehydration, a common complication of dengue fever.
These units will also operate 24 hours to ensure that patients receive timely and adequate fluid replacement therapy, which is vital in managing dengue.
These hydration units will be manned by doctors and nurses, who will offer care 24/7 to reduce dengue-related morbidity and mortality, especially during this peak dengue season.
City health officials have urged residents to take preventive measures, such as eliminating mosquito breeding sites, using insect repellent, and seeking early medical attention if symptoms appear.
City health officials have also been conducting awareness campaigns to educate residents on dengue prevention.
These campaigns emphasize the importance of the 4S strategy: search and destroy breeding sites, self-protection measures, seek early consultation, and support fogging/spraying only in hotspot areas.
The city government has asked residents to ramp up their efforts to eliminate mosquito breeding sites, which are crucial in controlling the spread of dengue./PN
