ANTIQUE — The Antique Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) has renewed its call for residents to strictly observe the Department of Health’s 4S strategy against dengue after the province recorded 249 cases and one death from January 1 to June 24 this year.
Data from the IPHO showed that the municipalities with the highest number of dengue cases were Bugasong with 37 cases, Sibalom with 35, Valderrama with 27, Culasi with 21, and San Jose de Buenavista with 18 cases.
The province’s lone dengue-related fatality was recorded in the municipality of Patnongon, which has logged 14 cases during the same period.
Irene Duldoco, IPHO information officer, said the victim was a 99-year-old woman from Patnongon who succumbed to severe dengue on May 3.
“A female, 99 years old, from Patnongon died due to severe dengue,” Duldoco said in an interview on Wednesday.
Health authorities continue to remind the public to practice the 4S strategy to help curb the spread of the mosquito-borne disease. The strategy includes searching for and destroying mosquito breeding sites, securing self-protection through protective measures, seeking early medical consultation when symptoms appear, and supporting fogging or spraying operations in identified hotspot areas when necessary.
Duldoco emphasized that community participation remains crucial in preventing dengue outbreaks, particularly during the rainy season when mosquito breeding sites become more prevalent.
As part of its intensified dengue awareness campaign, the IPHO, in partnership with the Department of Health Western Visayas Center for Health Development, conducted a health education session in the municipality of Sebaste on June 25.
The activity aimed to increase public awareness on dengue prevention, early detection of symptoms, and the importance of maintaining clean surroundings to eliminate mosquito breeding areas.
Health officials urged residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with local health initiatives to prevent a further increase in dengue cases across the province./PN
