ILOILO City – The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has disbursed over P1.68 million in claims for severe dengue cases in Western Visayas during the first semester of 2024, reflecting the scale of the outbreak.
From January to June, PhilHealth Region 6 processed claims totaling P1,680,050 for 74 severe dengue cases. The breakdown of these claims by province is as follows:
* Aklan – P160,000
* Antique – P92,502
* Capiz – P400,000
* Guimaras – P48,000
* Iloilo – P531,796
* Negros Occidental – P447,752
Dr. Rodalyn E. Lagalangan, medical specialist IV of the Benefit Administration Section of PhilHealth-6, noted that Iloilo Province had the highest number of claims, with payments for 22 cases.
Lagalangan did not rule out the possibility of an increase in the number of cases or claims in the second semester, citing the noticeable rise in dengue cases from July to September.
According to the Department of Health (DOH) – Region 6 data, from January 1, 2024, to August 31, 2024, the region recorded 20,814 dengue cases with 51 deaths, a 264 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023, which saw only 5,711 cases and 25 deaths.
In the last week of August alone, the region listed an additional 2,758 cases, distributed as follows:
* Aklan – 184 cases
* Antique – 99 cases
* Capiz – 276 cases
* Guimaras – 222 cases
* Iloilo – 1,019 cases
* Iloilo City – 289 cases
* Negros Occidental – 432 cases
* Bacolod City – 237 cases
Dengue fever, transmitted by the bite of an Aedes mosquito infected with a dengue virus, causes flu-like symptoms including severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pains, and rash.
More severe forms can develop into dengue hemorrhagic fever, which can be fatal.
The overall breakdown of the 20,814 cases with 51 fatalities across the region is as follows:
* Aklan – 2,103 cases, three deaths
* Antique – 1,111 cases, two deaths
* Capiz – 2,104 cases, five deaths
* Guimaras – 1,668 cases, one death
* Iloilo – 8,039 cases, 23 deaths
* Iloilo City – 1,407 cases, four deaths
* Negros Occidental – 3,296 cases, 10 deaths
* Bacolod City – 1,086 cases, three deaths/PN
