Iloilo keeps dengue alert despite case drop

By Mariela Angella Oladive

The Iloilo Provincial Health Office has urged residents not to let their guard down against dengue despite a sharp decline in cases, warning that the rainy season and the expected arrival of more tropical cyclones could trigger a resurgence of infections.

From Jan. 4 to June 27, Iloilo province recorded 873 dengue cases, including six deaths, a 65% decrease from the 2,509 cases and 11 deaths reported during the same period in 2025.

The province also logged 64 new cases during the latest monitoring week.

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon said the rainy season and the entry of tropical cyclones create favorable conditions for mosquito breeding.

“We should remain vigilant because the rainy season has begun, and more tropical cyclones are expected to enter the country. These conditions create more breeding sites for mosquitoes,” she said in a statement July 3.

Quiñon urged the public to practice the Department of Health’s 4S strategy against dengue, starting with Search and Destroy, which involves removing stagnant water and cleaning areas inside and outside homes where mosquitoes breed.

“The mosquito is difficult to catch, but its breeding sites can easily be eliminated. Once you find them, destroy them immediately,” she said.

She also encouraged residents to practice Self-Protection by wearing light-colored clothing, minimizing exposed skin, using mosquito repellents, and installing window or door screens.

The third strategy is Seek Early Consultation.

Quiñon advised people with symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, nausea, vomiting, skin rashes, or unusual bleeding to immediately visit the nearest primary health care facility or hospital.

She also urged communities to Say Yes to Fogging when local health authorities identify an outbreak or clustering of dengue cases.

Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, which breed in clean, stagnant water.

The IPHO is monitoring dengue case clusters in 10 barangays across the province.

Among localities, Calinog recorded the highest number of dengue cases with 92, followed by Cabatuan with 87, Passi City with 42, Dumangas with 36, Lambunao with 36, Ajuy with 35, Estancia with 34, Oton with 32, Maasin with 31, and Janiuay with 30.

The six dengue-related deaths were reported in Ajuy with one, Estancia with two, Carles with one, San Dionisio with one, and Dingle with one.

Children remained the most affected age group.

The IPHO recorded 261 cases among children aged 1 to 9 years, followed by 215 cases among those aged 10 to 19 years.

Adults aged 40 and above accounted for 181 cases, while those aged 20 to 29 recorded 110 cases.

Infants younger than 1 year and adults aged 30 to 39 each had 54 cases.

The province’s case fatality rate stood at 0.69%, while the attack rate was 42.06 cases per 100,000 population.