ILOILO — The Provincial Health Office has noted a significant surge in dengue fever cases within the province, currently under the influence of the El Niño phenomenon.
This weather condition encourages residents to store water, inadvertently creating breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
From January 1 to February 24, there have been 299 recorded cases, including two fatalities – a 14 percent increase from the same timeframe in 2023, which saw 263 cases.
Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon, the provincial health officer, noted the accelerated mosquito reproduction rate due to El Niño.
“Even a small mosquito population can lead to dengue outbreaks, necessitating immediate and vigilant response,” said Quiñon.
The municipalities most affected included Oton, with 26 cases; Pavia, Passi City, and Dumangas, each with 17 cases; and Lambunao, reporting 15 cases and one death.
Other notable areas included San Joaquin (14), Barotac Nuevo (11), Miag-ao (10 with one death), Santa Barbara (10), and Cabatuan (nine).
Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne viral disease characterized by severe flu-like symptoms that can, in extreme cases, be fatal. Symptoms include high fever, reaching 104 Fahrenheit degrees, severe headaches, nausea, vomiting, swollen glands, muscle and joint pain, pain behind the eyes, and skin rashes.
Additional cases have been reported from various towns: Mina (eight), Calinog (eight), Banate (seven), Dueñas (seven), San Rafael (seven), Lemery (seven), Leganes (seven), Ajuy (seven), Janiuay (seven), Guimbal (six), Sara (six), Tubungan (six), Tigbauan (six), San Enrique (six), Concepcion (six), Barotac Viejo (five), Anilao (five), Estancia (five), Leon (four), Dingle (four), Maasin (four), Igbaras (four), San Miguel (three), Bingawan (three), Alimodian (three), Balasan (three), Carles (three), Badiangan (two), Pototan (two), New Lucena (one), and San Dionisio (one).
Among 43 towns, including Passi City, 41 have reported dengue cases this year, with only Batad and Zarraga reporting no cases.
The province also mourns an additional dengue-related death, a 10-year-old girl from Lambunao who passed away in a tertiary hospital in Iloilo City on February 21, after exhibiting symptoms on February 15.
Dr. Quiñon expressed sorrow over the recent fatalities and urged parents and guardians to seek immediate medical attention for anyone displaying symptoms of dengue.
The province has adequate supplies of dengue test kits and larvicide, and the government is prepared to provide fogging machines to local government units (LGUs) experiencing high case numbers, she said.
Quiñon also stressed the importance of prompt medical attention for symptoms such as fever, headache, vomiting, and abdominal pain, cautioning against waiting for severe symptoms like bleeding.
She encouraged the continued adherence to the 4S strategy against dengue, which includes eradicating mosquito breeding sites, protecting oneself from mosquito bites, seeking early treatment, and supporting targeted fogging and spraying efforts./PN
