Case clusters in Negros, Iloilo indicate local transmission

The Department of Health-Western Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD 6) has noted clustering of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases in several areas in the provinces of Negros Occidental and Iloilo, including three hospitals in the region.

According to Dr. Jessie Glenn Alonsabe regional epidemiologist of DOH-CHD 6, areas with clustering of Covid-19 cases are those with two to four recorded cases in two successive weeks.

“For clustering of Covid-19 cases, there are two or more cases recorded in two successive weeks in a particular barangay, municipality or health facility,” he said in a press conference on Wednesday.

Alonsabe said there is clustering of cases in Brgy. Pajo in Lambunao, Iloilo with six confirmed cases, Brgy. Matab-ang, Talisay City, Negros Occidental with four cases; Bi-ao, Binalbagan, Negros Occidental with four cases; and Brgy. Cabadiangan, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental with also four cases.
He also noted clustering of cases in the towns of Alimodian, Bingawan, and New Lucena in Iloilo province.

In hospital facilities in the region, DOH-CHD 6 also observed clustering of cases in St. Paul’s Hospital in Iloilo City, Riverside Medical Center, Inc. in Bacolod City, and Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) in Iloilo City.

Alonsabe said the recorded clustering of cases in the region are local infections with no travel history from high-risk areas and no exposure to a previous confirmed case.

Locally stranded individuals and returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) were excluded from their tally of clustered cases, he added.

“We exclude LSIs, indi naton pwede sila ma-include kay may clustering na karon sila tanan kay most of our positive cases are LSIs. Ini ya ang mga clustered cases, mga local cases,” he said.

Alonsabe said the clustered cases were usually infected either through their households and in their workplace and were identified through contact tracing.

For hospital facilities, most of the clustered cases involved health workers who got infected in their workplaces, according to Alonsabe.

“Sa hospital, kalabanan health workers ang galatnanay kay isa lang sila ka workplace,” he said.

Recently, the rural health units (RHUs) of Alimodian, New Lucena, and Bingawan and Iloilo province were temporarily closed after their health workers tested positive for Covid-19.

Last June, one of the leading hospitals in Iloilo City, St. Paul’s Hospital was also hit by Covid-19 with eight of its doctors infected with the disease.

The hospital has been placed under lockdown for several days following the clustering of the cases. They only resumed their operations on July 13.

Despite the threats of clustered cases, DOH-CHD 6 said it is advantageous for health authorities and local government units to manage such scenario in a certain area.

According to Alonsabe, it will be easier to place the areas under lockdown when clustered cases have already been identified.

“Mas mahapos i-manage ang clustering because it is very easy for them to do the lockdowns or i-confine ang household or kon same workplace, pwede man i-place under lockdown. Once ma-control mo ang clusters, ma-control mo naman ang transmission,” he said.

Clustered cases, especially when not detected, will be even more difficult to manage due to the challenges in contact tracing, Alonsabe added.

Dr. Sophia Pulmones, head of the Local Health Support Division of DOH-CHD 6 said the strategy for clustering of cases will be – detect, isolate, test, and treat.

“First, do contact tracing kon may positive nga case. After ma-identify ang tanan nga close contacts, you isolate them or place them under quarantine. Those close contacts that fall under our prioritization for expanded testing will be subjected to confirmatory testing. Once, they turn out positive, all symptomatic cases should be treated in a health facility while asymptomatic cases will have to be monitored for 14 days,” she explained. (ERS)