Iloilo Dengue Cases Near 2,000 With Nine Deaths

By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan

Dengue cases in Iloilo province have continued to rise, with 1,959 infections and nine deaths recorded from Jan. 1 to May 31, according to the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO).

The data, covering Morbidity Week 22 (May 22 to 31), shows a 77.8 percent increase compared to the 1,102 cases and five deaths logged during the same period last year.

There were 121 new cases reported for the week, with San Joaquin recording the most (11), followed by Oton, Dumangas, and Pototan (8 each), Leon and Sara (7 each), Lambunao, Janiuay, Santa Barbara, and San Rafael (6 each), and Cabatuan, San Dionisio, and San Miguel (5 each).

Other towns with new cases include Maasin (4); Ajuy and Alimodian (3 each); Barotac Nuevo and Concepcion (2 each); and Barotac Viejo, Tigbauan, Miagao, Batad, Badiangan, Dingle, Dueñas, Mina, Igbaras, Zarraga, and Bingawan (1 each).

No new cases were reported in Passi City and the towns of Banate, Estancia, Carles, Guimbal, Anilao, Balasan, Lemery, Leganes, San Enrique, Tubungan, and New Lucena.

The nine deaths this year include two each in Pototan and Carles, and one each in Oton, Sara, Tigbauan, Dueñas, and Balasan.

San Joaquin has the highest number of dengue cases to date (151), followed by Oton (115), Leon (99), Cabatuan (95), Dumangas (91), Pototan (79), Lambunao (74), San Dionisio (67), Janiuay (63), and Calinog and Sara (62 each).

Clustering of cases—defined as three or more cases in a barangay within four weeks—was identified in 16 barangays across 11 municipalities.

Children aged 1 to 9 years old remain the most affected group with 646 cases, followed by ages 10 to 19 (555), 40 and above (294), 20 to 29 (284), 30 to 39 (122), and infants under 1 year old (58).

Dr. Rodney Labis of the IPHO’s Health Service Delivery Division warned that cases are expected to rise from June to August due to the rainy season.

In response, the Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office has led the “Limpyo Iloilo, Kada Lunes nga Lihok Kontra Lamok” every Monday, in partnership with the IPHO and other health offices.

The provincial government is also coordinating with the Department of Education to integrate anti-dengue cleanup drives into Brigada Eskwela ahead of the June 16 school opening.

Labis said the 4S strategy—Search and destroy mosquito breeding sites, Secure self-protection, Seek early consultation, and Support fogging and spraying—remains the most effective public defense against dengue.