ILOILO – According to the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO), the province recorded 179 dengue cases (with six deaths) from Jan. 1 to May 7.
This is 23.4 percent higher than 2021 figure of 144 cases (with zero deaths).
“If we don’t want another dengue epidemic like in 2019, let us cooperate,” said IPHO head Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon.
The six deaths were from the following areas:
* Guimbal – two
* Miagao – one
* Igbaras – one
* Leganes – one
* Passi City – one
Municipalities with highest cases were San Joaquin (34), Guimbal (21 with two deaths), Estancia (15), Miag-ao (nine with one death), Tigbauan (nine), San Dionisio (eight), Pototan (eight), Balasan (seven), Oton (seven), and Concepcion (six).
Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection causing a severe flu-like illness that could sometimes be fatal. Its carriers are day-biting mosquitoes (Aedes albpictus and Aedes aegypti) that live and breed and clean, stagnant water.
Here are the dengue cases in other areas: Sara (six), Carles (five), Tubungan (five), Igbaras (four with one death), Ajuy (four), Santa Barbara (three), Batad (three), Passi City (three with one death), Lambunao (two), Leganes (two with one death), San Enrique (two), Dingle (two), Leon (two), Calinog (two), Zarraga (two), Cabatuan (two), and Mina, Pavia, New Lucena, Banate, Dumangas, and Barotac Nuevo (one case each).
No dengue cases were recorded in Alimodian, San Rafael, Badiangan, Janiuay, Dueñas, Barotac Viejo, San Miguel, Anilao, Bingawan, Lemery, and Maasin.
According to the World Health Organization, individuals should suspect dengue when a high fever (40 degrees centigrade) is accompanied by two of the following symptoms: severe headache, pain behind the eyes, nausea / vomiting, swollen glands, muscle and joint pains, and rashes.
For severe dengue, the warning signs to look out for are: severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, rapid breathing, bleeding gums, blood in vomit, fatigue, and restlessness./PN
