ILOILO – The dengue death toll in this province has climbed to 32.
The latest fatality, recorded on Monday, November 4, was a 73-year-old man from the municipality of Sara, according to the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO).
Despite a downward trend in dengue cases, fatalities continue to occur, IPHO head Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon.
“We thought that as cases were slowly decreasing, deaths would also stop. Unfortunately, they still continue,” she lamented.
In October alone, the province recorded four dengue-related deaths, with details as follows:
* October 2 – 47-year-old man from Badiangan
* October 6 – 57-year-old man from Lemery
* October 19 – 52-year-old man from Guimbal
* October 26 – six-year-old girl from Igbaras
Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne viral infection that causes flu-like symptoms, including high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, joint and muscle pain, rash, and mild bleeding.
In severe cases, it can lead to dengue hemorrhagic fever, which causes bleeding, blood plasma leakage, and can be fatal if not properly managed.
The disease is primarily transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which breeds in stagnant water.
From January 1 to November 2, 2024, Iloilo Province recorded 10,846 dengue cases, a significant increase of 593% compared to the same period in 2023, which had 1,564 cases with only two deaths.
The municipalities with the highest number of cases are as follows:
* Passi City: 661 cases (2 deaths)
* Oton: 645 cases
* Leon: 489 cases
* Calinog: 474 cases
* Janiuay: 445 cases
* Lambunao: 443 cases (1 death)
* Dingle: 440 cases (1 death)
* Barotac Nuevo: 386 cases (4 deaths)
* Dumangas: 363 cases
* Santa Barbara: 354 cases (1 death)
Dr. Quiñon said persistent rains have exacerbated the breeding conditions for mosquitoes, which are the primary carriers of dengue.
“The continued rain and flooding are increasing breeding grounds, which leads to more mosquitoes and, consequently, higher transmission rates. We need to reduce mosquito habitats,” she said.
Dengue case numbers have not yet dropped to a level where Ilonggos can already relax, she stressed just a week ago.
Quiñon noted that “the most effective and cost-free method to curb dengue is simply inspecting homes and eliminating breeding sites.”
Here’s the full list of the 32 dengue-related deaths reported this year:
* February 11 – six-year-old boy from Miag-ao
* April 21 – 16-year-old girl from Miag-ao
* February 21 – four-year-old boy from Lambunao
* May 21 – 15-year-old boy from Badiangan
* June 5 – 20-year-old man from Badiangan
* August 5 – eight-year-old girl from Igbaras
* July 16 – 20-year-old man from Dingle
* August 10 – three-year-old girl from Banate
* August 11 – 34-year-old man from Concepcion
* August 13 – seven-year-old girl from Barotac Nuevo
* August 8 – 41-year-old woman from Barotac Nuevo
* August 16 – 22-year-old woman from Barotac Nuevo
* August 13 – 54-year-old woman from Sara
* August 14 – six-year-old boy from Estancia
* August 19 – four-year-old boy from Passi City
* August 9 – 10-year-old boy from Passi City
* August 17 – four-year-old boy from Pavia
* August 25 – 80-year-old woman from San Dionisio
* August 21 – three-year-old girl from Santa Barbara
* August 24 – 10-year-old boy from Calinog
* August 12 – three-year-old boy from Barotac Nuevo
* August 27 – 11-month-old girl from Guimbal
* August 31 – 61-year-old man from Igbaras
* September 7 – 37-year-old woman from Tubungan
* September 9 – 74-year-old woman from Concepcion
* September 24 – 45-year-old woman from Banate
* September 29 – 38-year-old woman from Balasan
* October 2 – 47-year-old man from Badiangan
* October 6 – 57-year-old man from Lemery
* October 19 – 52-year-old man from Guimbal
* October 26 – six-year-old girl from Igbaras
* November 4 – 73-year-old man from Sara/PN
