GUIMARAS – The province of Guimaras listed 11 dengue cases with zero death from January 1, 2022, to April 9, the lowest number of cases listed in the provinces and highly urbanized cities of Region 6.
Based on data from the Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit of the Department of Health (DOH) in Region 6 from January 1 to April 9, 2022, the region listed 608 dengue cases with 12 deaths.
Here is the breakdown of cases.
* Aklan – 22 cases with one death
* Antique – 85 cases with one death
* Capiz – 53 cases
* Guimaras – 11 cases
* Iloilo – 131 cases with five deaths
* Negros Occidental – 215 cases with two deaths
* Bacolod City – 70 cases with two deaths
* Iloilo City – 21 cases
It is noteworthy that the number of dengue cases in the region decreased by eight percent this year compared to last year but the number of cases in Guimaras, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, and Bacolod City increased.
“There is an eight percent decrease in total Western Visayas dengue cases (608 cases vs. 661 cases in 2021). However, there is an increase in cases compared to the same period in 2021 in Guimaras, Iloilo Province, Negros Occidental, and Bacolod City,” according to DOH-6.
As such, the DOH encourages local government units (LGUs) in the region, particularly Iloilo and Negros Occidental to practice the provisions of DOH Administrative Order 2018-0021 or the guidelines on the implementation of enhanced 4S strategies against dengue.
The Enhanced 4-S campaign stands for Search and destroys mosquito-breeding sites; secure Self-protection measures like wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts and daily use of mosquito repellent; Seek early consultation, and Support fogging/spraying only in hotspot areas where an increase in cases is registered for two consecutive weeks to prevent an impending outbreak.
Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection causing a severe flu-like illness that could sometimes be fatal. Its carriers are day-biting mosquitoes (Aedes albpictus and Aedes aegypti) that live and breed in clean, stagnant water.
According to the World Health Organization, individuals should suspect dengue when a high fever (40 degrees centigrade) is accompanied by two of the following symptoms: severe headache, pain behind the eyes, nausea/vomiting, swollen glands, muscle, and joint pains, and rashes.
For severe dengue, the warning signs to look out for are: severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, rapid breathing, bleeding gums, blood in vomit, fatigue, and restlessness./PN
