Region 6 logs more than 1,300 dengue cases so far in 2022

By Joseph B.A. Marzan

Dengue cases in Western Visayas increased by 75 percent between 2021 and 2022, according to the latest data from the Department of Health-Western Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH-WV CHD).

As of May 14, 2022, the region logged 1,355 dengue cases, higher than 775 logged at around the same time in 2021.

The region also reported more dengue deaths this year, with 19 compared to 8 in the same time last year.

Negros Occidental saw the highest dengue uptick this year, with 518 cases recorded as of May 14, a 205 percent leap compared to the same morbidity week last year (170).

Antique is on second spot with 316, followed by Iloilo province (222), Bacolod City (121), Capiz (86), Aklan and Iloilo City (39 each), and Guimaras (14).

Dengue case percentage rate also spiked in Antique (104 percent), Iloilo province (59 percent), Bacolod City (57 percent), Aklan (39 percent), and Guimaras (27 percent).

Only the province of Capiz and Iloilo City saw their cases decrease by –9 percent and –51 percent respectively.

As to age groups, most cases are 1 to 10 years old with 40 percent (537 cases), followed by those aged 11 to 20 years with 33 percent (452 cases), 21 to 30 years with 13 percent (173 cases), 31 to 40 years with 6 percent (77 cases), 51 years old and above with 3 percent (43 cases), below 1 years old with 3 percent (40 cases), and 41 to 50 years with 2 percent (33 cases)

Iloilo province so far has the most number of deaths (6), followed by Negros Occidental (5), Bacolod City (4), Antique (2), and Aklan and Iloilo City (1 each). No deaths have been logged from Capiz and Guimaras.

Areas with clustering and increasing number of cases (with between 9 to 23 cases) include:

–       Bugasong, Sibalom, San Jose, Hamtic, Anini-y, and San Remigio in Antique;

–       Roxas City and Jamindan in Capiz;

–       Ajuy, Guimbal, Miagao, Oton, San Joaquin, Tigbauan, and Tubungan towns in Iloilo province;

–       Bago City, Binalbagan, Cadiz City, Calatrava, Cauayan, Himamaylan City, Hinigaran, Hinoba-an, Isabela, Kabankalan City, La Carlota City, Murcia, Pontevedra, Sagay City, San Carlos City, Silay City, Talisay City, and Valladolid; and

–       Barangays Alijis, Estefania, Mansilingan, and Singcang-Airport in Bacolod City.

DOH-WV CHD spokesperson Bea Camille Natalaray said in a press briefing on Monday that they aim to lower the current case fatality rate from 1.4 percent down to 1 percent.

The regional office recommended the following prevention and control measures for local government units:

–       Reactivate Dengue Task Forces at all levels (provincial, city/municipal, and barangay);

–       Pre-position dengue prevention, control, and response logistics;

–       Invest in prevention to include vector and 4S (Search and Destroy, Secure Self Protection, Seek Early Consultation, and Say Yes to Fogging) strategy;

–       Conduct meetings with hospitals/referral facilities as part of preparedness plans; and

–       Proper assessment, triage, management, and referral of patients.

LOW NUMBERS BUT STILL PREPPING

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas said on Monday that the city’s dengue tally indicated a downtrend, but the city government will be beefing up preventive measures to keep their numbers low.

Treñas said that the city government has taken note of the DOH-WV CHD’s report especially the rising cases in neighboring areas, including in Iloilo province and Negros Occidental.

As part of their preparations for what could be a worse dengue season, the city government

“One of the things we are closely monitoring is dengue, and our CHO says there is no clustering, but we see that the number of cases are increasing, and it seems that the same barangays [which had high dengue cases] are the ones whose cases are still going up,” said the mayor.

“We are ready but we want to think that we are doing everything for [dengue cases] not to rise. […] We are working with the barangays to keep [our streets and canals] clean and we have placed medicines as well, but at the same time we are also preparing our modular field hospital if needed for our hydration units,” he added.

City Health Office (CHO) data as of May 21 indicated that the city has so far logged 48 cases, a 56 percent decrease from 353 from the same period last year, and despite the DOH figures, no deaths have been recorded yet.