AS DENGUE CASES SURGE: IPHO reminds public to store water safely

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

With a common practice among households to store water during the dry season, the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) has reminded the public to store water safely amid an uptick in dengue cases this year.

“Our dengue cases in the province are continuously increasing, and while we are experiencing low water levels, we are appealing to everyone to store their water safely,” said IPHO head Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon on Thursday.

Colmenares-Quiñon said the water tanks have to be cleaned at least once or twice a week to ensure that the water will not be a breeding place for dengue-infected mosquitoes.

Dengue is caused by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which spread the vector-borne disease to humans through bites. The dengue mosquito lays its eggs in water-filled containers inside the house and surrounding areas of dwellings.

The IPHO head urged the public to continue observing the 4s to prevent dengue — Search and destroy mosquito breeding places; Seek early consultation from health experts; Secure self-protection; and Support fogging/spraying.

“We are also appealing to our barangay officials to mobilize efforts to prevent dengue disease, particularly in conducting clean-up drives,” she added.

The appeal is in light of the 596 cases and two deaths from dengue cases recorded in the province from January to March 30 this year. The fatalities were from the towns of Lambunao and Miagao.

The current figure is a 40.4 percent increase compared to the 426 cases and zero deaths documented in the same morbidity week last year.

IPHO data showed that all 42 towns and one component city of the province have recorded positive cases of dengue.

Lambunao registered the highest number of cases with 49, Oton with 33, Passi City with 30, Calinog with 26, Dumangas with 25, Pavia with 24, Leon with 23, Miagao and San Joaquin with 22 cases each, and Lemery with 21 cases.

The IPHO also noted that there are clusters of cases in one barangay in Badiangan, Balasan, Calinog, Leon, and three barangays in Lambunao.

The Department of Health reported a total of 1,830 dengue cases in the region this year after registering 229 new cases from March 17 to 23.

This is five percent higher than the 1,742 cases in the first quarter last year.