Iloilo dengue deaths hit 19; four recorded in one week

By Mariela Angella Oladive

ILOILO CITY — Four more dengue deaths were recorded in Iloilo during the 37th morbidity week ending Sept. 19, bringing the province’s cumulative death toll to 19, the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) said.

The four new deaths were recorded in Estancia, Carles, and Ajuy.

Estancia’s death toll rose from five to seven, Carles’ from three to four, and Ajuy’s from one to two.

San Dionisio, Sara, Dingle, Miagao, San Rafael, and San Joaquin each recorded one dengue death.

Weekly cases slow

While deaths increased, new dengue cases declined. The IPHO recorded 156 new cases in the 37th morbidity week, down from 278 the previous week, after several consecutive weeks of more than 200 new cases.

The province’s cumulative caseload still climbed, reaching 3,347.

That total is 29 percent lower than the 4,709 cases recorded during the same morbidity week in 2025, but the death toll matches the 19 deaths logged over the same period last year.

The provincial attack rate stood at 161.24 cases per 100,000 population, while the case-fatality rate was 0.57 percent.

The IPHO figures cover Iloilo’s 42 municipalities and Passi City. Iloilo City, a highly urbanized city, reports its dengue cases separately.

Among the 43 local government units (LGUs) with recorded dengue cases, Estancia had the highest number at 317.

It was followed by Calinog with 215 cases; Carles, 187; Cabatuan, 184; Passi City, 181; Dumangas, 175; Ajuy, 141; Concepcion, 113; Lambunao, 112; and Tigbauan, 105.

Clustering in 84 barangays

The IPHO also reported dengue case clustering in 84 barangays across 26 municipalities and one component city.

It defines clustering as three or more cases recorded within four consecutive weeks.

The affected municipalities are Ajuy, Alimodian, Anilao, Balasan, Barotac Nuevo, Barotac Viejo, Batad, Cabatuan, Calinog, Carles, Concepcion, Dingle, Dueñas, Dumangas, Estancia, Lambunao, Leganes, Lemery, Maasin, Oton, Pavia, Pototan, San Miguel, San Rafael, Tigbauan, and Tubungan, along with Passi City.

Children most affected

Children remained among the most affected age groups.

Those aged 5 to 9 accounted for the highest number of cases at 659, followed by those aged 10 to 14 with 599 cases, and those aged 15 to 19 with 477 cases.

The province reached the dengue alert threshold in the 29th morbidity week, covering July 19 to 25.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon warned at the time that a continued increase in cases could push the province toward the epidemic threshold.

Dengue cases typically rise during the rainy season, when stagnant water provides breeding sites for the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which transmits the virus.

Early consultation urged

The IPHO has continued to urge LGUs and communities to intensify efforts to eliminate mosquito breeding sites, particularly in areas where clustering has been recorded.

Health authorities reminded residents to observe the Department of Health’s 4S strategy against dengue: search and destroy breeding places, secure self-protection, seek early consultation, and support fogging and spraying in hotspot areas.

Residents experiencing fever for two to seven days, particularly when accompanied by headache, body pain, or rashes, are advised to seek medical consultation promptly.

In a separate statement, Colmenares-Quiñon urged the public not to wait for a fever to worsen before consulting a doctor.

She said families may seek medical advice as early as the first day of fever.

Patients assessed as suspected dengue cases may undergo free dengue testing at health facilities, she added.

“Dengue can be fatal; the best intervention when someone has a fever is to seek early treatment,” she said.

She noted that some dengue patients who died were brought to hospitals only after developing severe dengue, when their condition had already become difficult to manage.