ILOILO – Dengue cases in this province have shown a significant decrease over the past few weeks, according to the latest data from the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO).
But despite the decline, health authorities are urging communities to persistently apply the 4S strategy to combat the disease.
The IPHO reported a peak in dengue cases during the week of August 4 to August 10, with 1,082 cases recorded. Subsequent weeks saw a gradual decrease: 1,034 cases from August 11 to 17, 731 cases from August 18 to 24, and 602 cases from August 25 to 31.
Preliminary figures for the first week of September indicate 238 new cases, although this number is expected to rise as data encoding by the Provincial Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (PESU) continues.
Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon, head of IPHO, emphasized the importance of maintaining vigilance.
“We are not yet out of the woods with the dengue outbreak. In fact, to be considered below the epidemic threshold, we need to show a decline for 28 days. Currently, we are still significantly above this threshold and remain in a state of outbreak,” she said.
An epidemic threshold is the disease occurrence level beyond which an immediate response is necessary, while an alert threshold serves as an early warning for potential epidemics.
From January 1 to September 7, 2024, the province has registered 8,363 dengue cases with 23 fatalities, marking a aggering 588 percent increase compared to the 1,216 cases and two deaths recorded during the same period in 2023.
Here are the areas with the most cases of dengue: Passi City (594 cases with two deaths), Oton (461), Calinog (356 cases with one death), Leon (332), Janiuay (331), Barotac Nuevo (325 cases with four deaths), Dumangas (324), Dingle (301 cases with one death), Cabatuan (264), and Santa Barbara (257 cases with one death).
Other areas that reported cases were: Lambunao (254 cases with one death), Pavia (246), Miag-ao (235 cases with two deaths), Tigbauan (225), San Dionisio (224 cases with one death), Pototan (222), Barotac Viejo (211), Badiangan (205 cases with two deaths), Sara (195 cases with one death), Dueñas (192), Lemery (191), Alimodian (183), Igbaras (172 cases with two deaths), Banate (162 cases with one death), Batad (144), San Enrique (142), San Miguel (137), Ajuy (130), Maasin (118), Mina (112), San Joaquin (110), Zarraga (109), Balasan (107), Leganes (107), Estancia (104 cases with one death), Bingawan (101), Concepcion (101 cases with two deaths), Anilao (92), Guimbal (88), Tubungan (62), Carles (60), New Lucena (46), and San Rafael (31)./PN
