ILOILO – Just one week before August, traditionally a month marked by a spike in dengue cases, the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) has recorded 440 new cases of dengue, including one fatality, during the 29th morbidity week from July 13 to July 20.
The recent casualty was a 20-year-old male from Dingle town who died in a hospital in Iloilo City. He initially sought treatment at a private clinic after experiencing fever, where he tested positive for dengue.
Despite continued care, he was admitted to the hospital following the appearance of warning signs and complications, but succumbed to the disease on his second day in the hospital, said Rodney Labis, chief of the IPHO’s Health Service Delivery Division.
From the beginning of the year until July 20, the province has seen a total of 2,493 dengue cases with six fatalities – a significant 161 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023, which had only 956 cases.
The latest weekly data showed Passi City leading with 34 cases, followed by Dumangas (30), Janiuay (29), and Dingle (27), Lambunao (26), Badiangan (21), Oton (20), Barotac Nuevo (19), Cabatuan (15), Pototan (15), San Dionisio (15), Pavia (14), Calinog (13), Tigbauan (12), Estancia (12), Alimodian (10), Zarraga (10), San Enrique (nine), Mina (eight), Miag-ao (seven), Banate (seven), Leon (seven), Santa Barbara (seven), Tubungan (seven), San Miguel (six), Batad (six), Maasin (six), Guimbal (five), Leganes (five), Sara (four), Ajuy (three), Concepcion (three), Barotac Viejo (three), Igbaras (three), San Joaquin (three), Dueñas (three), Balasan (two), Bingawan (two), and Anilao (one).
The six deaths reported this year from dengue included individuals from Badiangan (two males aged 20 and 23), Lambunao (a four-year-old male), Miag-ao (a six-year-old male and a 16-year-old female), and the aforementioned case from Dingle.
Children aged one to 10 years have been most affected, with 912 cases, followed by the 11 to 20 age group with 829 cases.
Here’s more age group breakdown:
* 21 to 30 years old – 355 cases
* 31 to 40 years old – 139 cases
* less than one year old – 93 cases
* above 61 years old – 71 cases
* 41 to 50 years old – 55 cases
* 51 to 60 years old – 39 cases
Clustering of cases, defined as three or more cases within a four-week period, has been identified in 32 municipalities.
Dr. Labis emphasized the ongoing aggressive dengue control campaigns, especially as more cases are expected in August.
He also noted the coordination with 43 municipalities, including Passi City, to guide dengue response activities.
The IPHO has allocated necessary supplies to Rural Health Units (RHUs) and promotes the “4S” strategy against dengue, which includes searching and destroying mosquito-breeding sites, self-protection measures, seeking early treatment, and supporting fogging/spraying only in hotspot areas.
Dengue is a viral infection transmitted by mosquitoes, presenting with severe flu-like symptoms that can lead to fatal complications in extreme cases. Symptoms include high fever, severe headache, nausea, vomiting, muscle and joint pains, and distinctive red rashes or spots on the skin.
The 32 areas with clustering of cases in their barangays/villages are Ajuy (one barangay), Alimodian (five), Anilao (one), Badiangan (six), Banate (three), Barotac Nuevo (six), Barotac Viejo (three), Batad (two), Bingawan (one), Cabatuan (three), Calinog (three), Passi City (11), Concepcion (one), Dingle (six), Dumangas (seven), Igbaras (one), Janiuay (seven), Lambunao (seven), Lemery (two), Leon (one), Maasin (one), Miag-ao (one), Mina (three), Oton (six), Pavia (three), Pototan (three), San Dionisio (two), San Enrique (two), San Miguel (two), Santa Barbara (two), Tigbauan (three), and Zarraga three)./PN
