ILOILO – The public’s habit of storing water due to the El Niño phenomenon that induces fewer rainfall and water scarcity contributes significantly to mosquito breeding, thus increasing the risk of dengue transmission, according to the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO).
Dengue fever has now spread to all the 42 towns in this province and the component city of Passi, the IPHO confirmed yesterday.
IPHO data also showed Iloilo recording 652 cases since Jan. 1, 2024, including two fatalities.
These are 46 percent higher than then 447 cases recorded last year from January to April.
Areas with the highest number of cases are Lambunao, leading with 58 cases and one death, followed by Oton with 35 cases, and Passi City with 31 cases.
Other significantly affected areas are Calinog with 30 cases, Pavia with 26, Dumangas with 25, Estancia with 24, and Leon, San Joaquin, and Miag-ao each reporting 23 cases.
Miag-ao also reported one death.
The 33 other towns reported varying numbers of cases, with Lemery and Balasan recording 22 and 21 cases, respectively.
The least affected areas are Pototan (three), Zarraga and New Lucena (one each).
Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon, head of the IPHO, emphasized the need to increase public awareness about dengue.
Dengue mosquitoes breed in clear, stagnant water.
But despite the rise in cases, Quiñon reassured the public that the situation is not alarming, as the number of patients admitted to district hospitals remains low.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. also affirmed that the dengue situation has not reached epidemic levels, and that hospital admissions are being closely monitored.
Quiñon reiterated the importance of the 4S strategy in combating dengue: searching and destroying mosquito breeding sites, self-protection measures like wearing protective clothing and using mosquito repellent, seeking early treatment, and supporting fogging or spraying in hotspot areas only.
The other towns with cases are the following: San Dionisio (20), Carles (20), Santa Barbara (17), Sara (17), Ajuy (16), Barotac Nuevo (14), Janiuay (13), Leganes (13), Tigbauan (13), Cabatuan (12), Badiangan (12), Mina (10), Barotac Viejo (10), Tubungan (10), Guimbal (nine), Igbaras (nine), Concepcion (nine), Alimodian (nine), Dingle (nine), Batad (nine), San Enrique (eight), Anilao (eight), San Rafael (eight), Dueñas (seven), Maasin (seven), Banate (seven), Bingawan (seven), and San Miguel (four)./PN
