ILOILO – The provincial government has contingency plans in case of a spike in dengue and cholera cases even as it deals with the El Niño phenomenon.
According to Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) is particularly looking at the readiness of 13 district hospitals and the Iloilo Provincial Hospital in Pototan town.
The Department of Health (DOH) recently warned of cholera and dengue outbreaks, and a possible spike in malnutrition cases linked to the El Niño phenomenon.
“Weather affects health. We are handling diseases that deal with drought. If there is drought, there is low food production. We will focus on malnourished-sensitive populations,” said Health secretary Teodoro Herbosa.
Food shortages and inaccessibility of food due to high prices may result in malnutrition cases in poverty-inclined communities, Herbosa said.
DOH Undersecretary Eric Tayag also warned that waterborne diseases such as dengue and cholera may increase during the dry spell.
“People tend to store water during the dry season. This may lead to an outbreak of dengue. Water containers may become breeding grounds of mosquitoes,” he said.
Tayag added: “Cholera usually comes in when water is turbid or has a different color. That happens during the El Niño season when there is low water distribution. This is why pipes have to be replaced. This is why waterborne fecal diseases tend to increase,” explained Tayag.
The World Health Organization last month said it is preparing for an increased spread of viral diseases like dengue, chikungunya and Zika linked to the El Niño weather phenomenon.
The provinces of Iloilo, Antique and Guimaras in Region 6 were among the localities in the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration’s forecast to experience a dry spell this December until the first quarter of 2024.
Based on IPHO data, Iloilo province recorded 673 dengue cases with one death as of July 1 this year – 219 percent higher than 211 cases with one death in the same period last year.
The towns with the highest cases are Barotac Nuevo (45), Estancia (35), Ajuy (31), Oton (28), Calinog (26), Barotac Viejo (25), Banate (25), San Joaquin (25), Passi City (24), and Alimodian (23).
Dengue cases were also recorded in the following towns: Cabatuan (22), Carles (21), Pavia (21), Pototan (21), Dumangas (20), San Dionisio (19), Balasan (18), Sara (17), Leon (16), Concepcion (14), Lemery (14), Miag-ao (14), Tigbauan (14), Guimbal (13), Janiuay (13), Santa Barbara (13), Dingle (12), San Miguel (12), Igbaras (11), Batad (10), Dueñas (eight), Anilao (eight), Leganes (eight), San Enrique (seven), Zarraga (six), Maasin (six), Tubungan (six), Badiangan (five), Bingawan (five), San Rafael (five), New Lucena (four), and Lambunao (two).
Mina is the sole town in Iloilo with zero recorded dengue cases.
Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection that causes a severe flu-like illness that could be fatal if not managed well. Its carriers are day-biting mosquitoes (Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti) that breed in clear, stagnant water.
For cholera, the province had logged 31 cases as of July 1 of this year.
The 31 cases were from Leganes (seven); Pototan and Pavia (four each); Dingle, Zarraga and Passi City (two each):, San Enrique, Alimodian, Banate, Barotac Nuevo, Dueñas, Dumangas, Oton, Lambunao, Cabatuan, and Janiuay (one each).
Cholera is an infectious disease that causes severe watery diarrhea, leading to dehydration and even death if untreated.
It is caused by eating food or drinking water contaminated with a bacterium called Vibrio cholera./PN
