ILOILO – The Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) cautions the youth, particularly children aged one to 10 years old. They are the most affected by dengue in the province.
Out of the 393 dengue cases listed from Jan. 1 to April 8 this year, more than 50 percent, or 223 cases, were aged one to 10 years old, IPHO data showed.
“Ang aton dengue cases sige saka. Laban nga nagamasakit mga bata one to 10 years old,” said IPHO head Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon.
Other age groups most affected are:
* 11 to 20 years old – 82 cases
* 21 to 30 years old – 37 cases
* 41 years and above – 26 cases
* less than one year old – 14 cases
* 31 to 40 years old – 11 cases
Since children are mostly infected with dengue, Quiñon reminds parents and guardians to always practice the 4S strategy: search and destroy mosquito breeding sites, secure self-protection, seek early consultation, and support fogging and spraying only in hotspot areas.
“Mag-uligmat kag maghalong. I-practice gid naton ang 4S kontra dengue ilabi na sa parents nga may kabataan,” said Quiñon.
Dengue cases in the province this year were 181 percent higher compared to 140 cases and six deaths recorded in the same period in 2022.
The top 10 towns, including component city, with the highest cases are the following: Barotac Nuevo (30), Estancia (24), Alimodian (19), Banate (18), Ajuy (18), San Dionisio (17), Pototan (16), Passi City (15), Calinog (14), and Cabatuan (14).
The remaining dengue cases were recorded in Oton (14), Carles (13), Dumangas (13), Sara (12), Barotac Viejo (12), Lemery (11), Balasan (11), Pavia (10), Concepcion (nine), Dueñas (eight), Dingle (eight), Batad (eight), Santa Barbara (eight), San Joaquin (six), San Miguel (six), San Enrique (six), Miag-ao (six), Tigbauan (six), Leganes (five), Guimbal (five), Igbaras (five), Janiuay (four), Zarraga (four), Tubungan |(four), Badiangan (three), Anilao (three), Leon (three), Bingawan (three), Lambunao (one), and New Lucena (one).
Only three towns have no dengue cases as of April 8: Maasin, Mina, and San Rafael.
Earlier this year, Quiñon said the provincial government, headed by Gov. Arthur Defender Jr., has been giving out adulticides to the affected towns to curb the spread of dengue.
“May ara naman kita ginhatag sa aton rural health units and hospitals nga mga bulong and dengue test kits para ma-establish naton nga ang kawsa sang hilanat sang pasyente tungod sa dengue,” she added.
Dengue is a viral infection that spreads from mosquitoes to people. It is more common in tropical and subtropical climates, like in the Philippines.
Most people who get dengue won’t have symptoms, according to the World Health Organization. But for those that do, the most common symptoms are high fever, headache, body aches, nausea and rash. Most will also get better in one to two weeks. Some people develop severe dengue and need care in a hospital.
In severe cases, dengue can be fatal./PN
