ILOILO – A surge in dengue fever cases has been reported across the province, with 31 of its 43 municipalities, including Passi City, experiencing clusters of cases, the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) confirmed.
In the recent update covering the 28th morbidity week of 2024, the province has witnessed a dramatic 130% increase in dengue cases compared to the same period last year, with figures rising from 893 to 2,053 cases and five fatalities.
Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne viral infection causing severe flu-like symptoms and potentially life-threatening complications.
During just one week, from July 6 to July 13, the province reported 348 new cases.
Passi City leads with the highest number at 40, followed by Dumangas (26), Dingle (17), Calinog (16), and Janiuay (11).
Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon, head of the IPHO, expressed particular concern over the increase in barangays with clustered cases, now totalling 79 across the province.
Clustering is defined as three or more reported cases within four consecutive weeks in the same area.
The municipalities with clustering of dengue cases in barangays are the following:
* Ajuy – Poblacion (three) and Progreso (four)
* Alimodian – Poblacion (three), Umingan (three), and Taban-Manguning (three)
* Anilao – Mostro (nine)
* Badiangan – Astorga (seven), Cabayogan (four), Iniligan (10), and Bita-oyan (three)
* Banate – Magdalo (five) and Libertad (three)
* Barotac Nuevo – Tabucan (10), Tabuc-Suba (six), Talisay (three), Cabilauan (four), and Guinatas (three)
* Barotac Viejo – Santigao (five), Vista Alegre (five), and Poblacion (four)
* Batad – Hamod (three)
* Bingawan – Poblacion (six)
* Cabatuan – Tabucan (five), Talanghauan (three), and Zone XI (six)
* Calinog – Poblacion Ilaya (three), Mambiranan (three), Dalid (three), Jamin-ay (nine), and Simsiman (three)
* Passi City – Agdahon (15), Gines Viejo (four), Imbang Grande (six), Man-it (six), Poblacion Ilawod (three), Talongonan (three), and Arac (six)
* Dingle – Poblacion (six), San Jose (seven), Licuan (eight), Tanghawan (three), and Tinocuan (five)
* Dumangas – Calao (four), Pagdugue (nine), and Bantud Fabrica (four)
* Janiuay – Jibolo (three), Aquino Nobleza East (three), and Don Lutero East (four)
* Lambunao – Bontoc (four), Magbato (eight), Pajo (four), Tranghawan (five), Walang (three), and Maite Grande (three)
* Lemery – Poblacion South East Zone (six) and Poblacion North West Zone (three)
* Leon – Buga (six)
* Maasin – Amerang (nine)
* Miag-ao – Cubay (three)
* Mina – Tolarucan (five) and Bangac (six)
* Oton – Tagbac Sur (four), Santa Clara (three), and Caboloan Norte (three)
* Pavia – Jibao-an (three) and Purok IV (three)
* Pototan –Rumbang (seven) and Igang (four)
* San Dionisio – Poblacion (three) and Siempreviva (three)
* San Enrique – Tambunac (four)
* San Miguel – Santo Niño (three)
* Santa Barbara – Talanghauan (three)
* Sara – Apologista (three)
* Tigbauan – Dorong-an (four), Bitas (four), Barangay 9 (three), and Balud Lilo-an (eight)
* Zarraga – Talaguis (five)
In response to the escalating situation, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) passed a resolution mandating all barangays to implement the “Aksyon Barangay Kontra Dengue” (ABKD) initiative, involving local communities in efforts to eradicate mosquito breeding sites, especially during the rainy season.
Quiñon also urged schools in affected areas to conduct indoor residual spraying to protect students as classes are set to resume on July 29.
She stressed that dengue is non-discriminatory in terms of age, affecting all groups, though predominantly those under 20 years old.
Despite the rising cases, Quiñon clarified that the province is still below the alert and epidemic thresholds.
To reach the alert threshold, Iloilo would need to report 1,257 new cases by the end of the 28th morbidity week, while 1,840 cases would push it into the epidemic threshold.
The alert threshold serves as an early warning system, whereas the epidemic threshold requires an urgent health response.
Here are the 10 municipalities with the highest dengue cases since January: Passi City (137), Lambunao (130 cases with one death), Badiangan (97 cases with two deaths), Calinog (97), Oton (88), Dumangas (81), Dingle (71), Miag-ao (66 cases with two deaths), Lemery (65), and Janiuay (63 cases).
The others which also reported cases were: Barotac Nuevo (61), Ajuy (57), Cabatuan (57), Sara (56), Leon (53), Pavia (50), Pototan (50), San Dionisio (47), Banate (46), Barotac Viejo (45), Estancia (45), Tigbauan (45), Santa Barbara (44), Alimodian (40), San Joaquin (35), Maasin (35), Igbaras (34), Mina (33), Carles (31), Balasan (30), Dueñas (30), Concepcion (28), Batad (26), Anilao (24), Bingawan (22), Zarraga (22), Leganes (21), San Miguel (21), San Enrique (20), Guimbal (18), Tubungan (13), San Rafael (10), and New Lucena (five)./PN
