ILOILO City – As the rainy season begins, the Department of Health (DOH) in Western Visayas is urging communities to intensify dengue prevention measures.
The focus is on collective community efforts to combat dengue, particularly by activating local initiatives and ensuring proactive measures at the barangay level.
From January 1 to June 8, DOH Region 6 recorded 3,482 dengue cases with nine deaths, a 22 percent increase compared to the same period last year, which saw 2,855 cases and 14 deaths.
The provinces with the highest case numbers are Iloilo (1,128 cases, four deaths), Aklan (553 cases, one death), and Negros Occidental (519 cases, three deaths).
The remaining death was recorded in Capiz.
Dengue is a viral infection transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected female mosquito, primarily the Aedes aegypti mosquito.
While most people with dengue experience mild symptoms or none at all and recover in one to two weeks, some may suffer from high fever, severe headache, muscle and joint pains, vomiting, and rashes.
In light of Dengue Awareness Month this June, themed “Stop the Spread: Sama-sama Nating Sugpuin ang Dengue,” DOH-6 is spotlighting the community’s role in dengue prevention.
Dr. Bea Camille Natalaray, head of the Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Disease and Aedes-Vector Borne Diseases Prevention and Control Program at DOH-6, called for the cooperation of other government agencies, particularly the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), to activate local anti-dengue measures.
She also urged schools to start preparing for the return of learners by eliminating mosquito breeding sites.
Parents and guardians are advised to consult healthcare providers if their children experience headaches for two days or more.
“Our reviews show that delayed consultation is a common cause of dengue-related deaths. If a child has a fever for two days, bring them to the nearest health facility,” Natalaray said.
The most affected age group is children aged one to 10 years, accounting for 40 percent of the cases, followed by those aged 11 to 20 years at 28 percent. The age range of dengue cases spans from one to 98 years old.
Barangay Odiongan in Badiangan, Iloilo, has been identified as a dengue hotspot due to a sustained increase in cases and a dengue-related death.
Twenty-nine other barangays are also experiencing clustering of cases, defined as three or more cases over four consecutive weeks.
Natalaray attributes the rise in dengue cases this year to the El Niño phenomenon.
The prolonged dry spell led to water scarcity, causing people to store water in containers that became breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
With the onset of the rainy season, Natalaray emphasized the likelihood of an increase in mosquito breeding sites.
“Based on previous years’ data, we observed a significant rise in dengue cases at the start of the rainy season,” she noted during a virtual press conference on June 14.
DOH-6 is advocating for the 4S strategy: search and destroy mosquito breeding sites; self-protection measures; seek early consultation;, and support fogging/spraying in hotspot areas.
“Search and destroy” involves regularly inspecting and eliminating stagnant water sources where mosquitoes breed.
“Self-protection measures” include using mosquito repellents, wearing long sleeves, and installing window screens to reduce mosquito bites.
“Seek early consultation” urges people experiencing dengue symptoms like high fever and severe headache to seek immediate medical attention.
“Support fogging and spraying” encourages community cooperation with local authorities in controlling mosquito populations./PN
