ILOILO – Cases of dengue here are declining, according to the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO).
IPHO chief Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon said cases peaked on morbidity week 28th (July 9 to July 16); they recorded 220 cases for a week.
On morbidity week 29 (July 16 to July 23) there were 201 cases and on morbidity week 30th (July 23 to July 30) there were 204 cases.
Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection causing a severe flu-like illness that could sometimes be fatal. Its carriers are day-biting mosquitoes (Aedes albpictus and Aedes aegypti) that live and breed and clean, stagnant water.
The downward trend continued:
* morbidity week 31 (July 30 to Aug. 6) – 161 new cases
* morbidity week 32nd (Aug. 6 to Aug. 13) – 111 new cases
* morbidity week 33rd (Aug. 13 to Aug. 20) – 80 cases.
From Jan. 1, 2022 to Aug. 20,2022, the IPHO recorded 2,066 cases with 16 deaths. These are 542 percent higher than the cases recorded in the same period last year (322 cases with one death).
“Please let us continue practicing the 5S health strategy,” Quiñon appealed to all Ilonggos.
The 5S strategy consists of:
* search and destroy mosquito-breeding sites
* self-protection measures
* seek early consultation,
* support fogging/spraying only in hotspot areas
The 10 towns with the most number of cases are the following: Oton (210), San Joaquin (181), Tubungan (160), Guimbal (145 cases with three deaths), Banate (143), Miag-ao (103 cases with two deaths), Pototan (99), Dumangas (93 cases with one death), Leon (83), and Tigbauan (70)./PN
