ILOILO – The Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) reported an increase in dengue-related deaths, with the toll reaching 17 fatalities since January 1, 2024. Eleven of these deaths occurred in August alone.
Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon, head of IPHO, detailed the breakdown of the 17 fatalities:
* six-year-old boy from Miag-ao, February 11
* 16-year-old girl from Miag-ao, April 21
* four-year-old boy from Lambunao, February 21
* 15-year-old boy from Badiangan, May 21
* 20-year-old man from Badiangan, June 5
* eight-year-old girl from Igbaras, August 5
* 20-year-old man from Dingle, July 16
* three-year-old girl from Banate, August 10
* 34-year-old man from Concepcion, August 11
* seven-year-old girl from Barotac Nuevo, August 13
* 41-year-old woman from Barotac Nuevo, August 8
* 22-year-old woman from Barotac Nuevo, August 16
* 54-year-old woman from Sara, August 13
* six-year-old boy from Estancia, August 14
* four-year-old boy from Passi City, August 19
* 10-year-old boy from Passi City, August 9
* 80-year-old woman from San Dionisio, August 25
These deaths are part of the 6,816 dengue cases reported this year – a 492 percent increase from the same period in 2023, which had only 1,151 cases and one death.
The areas with the highest incidence of dengue – a mosquito-borne disease – include Passi City (497 cases, two deaths), and the towns of Oton (338), Calinog (289), Leon (278), Dumangas (273), Barotac Nuevo (245, two deaths), Lambunao (245, one death), Dingle (236, one death), and Cabatuan (199).
The other towns that reported dengue cases were San Dionisio (193 cases with one death), Badiangan (189 cases with two deaths), Tigbauan (186) Santa Barbara (184), Sara (179), Pavia (177), Barotac Viejo (176), Miag-ao (172 cases with two deaths), Pototan (166), Alimodian (161), Lemery (161), Igbaras (158 cases with one death), Dueñas (144), Banate (135 cases with one death), Batad (125), San Miguel (125), Ajuy (111), San Enrique (110), Mina (110), San Joaquin (92), Balasan (90), Estancia (90 cases with one death), Maasin (88), Bingawan (87), Concepcion (83 cases with one death), Leganes (80), Zarraga (80), Anilao (74), Guimbal (66), Carles (52), Tubungan (49), New Lucena (42), and San Rafael (30).
Dr. Quiñon highlighted the correlation between the number of cases and fatalities, noting that areas with higher case counts like Passi City, Miag-ao, Barotac Nuevo, and Badiangan also experience more deaths.
She emphasized the urgent need for community involvement in eliminating mosquito breeding sites to prevent further loss of life./PN
