ILOILO – This province has reached the dengue alert threshold, with disease clusters detected in 23 localities and children aged five to nine emerging as the most affected group. Health authorities warned that a continued rise could push Iloilo toward epidemic levels.
The Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) said dengue cases breached the alert threshold during morbidity week 29, covering the July 19 to 27 reporting period.
The threshold was calculated using the province’s five-year historical data from 2020 to 2025, excluding 2024, which was considered an outbreak year.
“Meaning, dapat kita mag-alerto na gid kay man kun magsige-sige ini nga pagsaka, basi mag-lead sa breaching of epidemic threshold nga gusto naton malikawan,” said IPHO head Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon.
From Jan. 4 to Aug. 1, Iloilo recorded 1,595 dengue cases and six deaths. The number was 57 percent lower than the 3,677 cases and 15 deaths reported during the same period last year, but the recent upward trend has raised concern among health officials.
Dengue is a viral infection transmitted through the bite of an infected female Aedes aegypti mosquito.
Its symptoms include sudden high fever, severe headache, joint and muscle pain, skin rashes and, in some cases, bleeding.
There is no specific cure for dengue, and severe cases can be fatal without prompt treatment.
Calinog recorded the highest number of cases at 145, followed by Cabatuan with 130; Estancia, 100 with two deaths; Passi City, 82; Ajuy, 79 with one death; Dumangas, 72; Lambunao, 59; Maasin, 54; Carles, 48 with one death; and Concepcion, 45.
Other cases were recorded in Oton, 43; San Dionisio, 43 with one death; Sara, 43; San Enrique, 40; Santa Barbara, 40; Tigbauan, 40; Janiuay, 39; Banate, 37; Batad, 35; San Miguel, 35; Pototan, 33; Alimodian, 30; Miag-ao, 30; Dingle, 28 with one death; Balasan, 27; Pavia, 24; Barotac Viejo, 20; Bingawan, 20; Guimbal, 18; San Rafael, 18; Leganes, 17; Dueñas, 16; Igbaras, 13; Lemery, 13; Leon, 13; Barotac Nuevo, 11; Tubungan, 11; Zarraga, 11; Mina, 10; Badiangan, seven; San Joaquin, seven; Anilao, six; and New Lucena, three.
Children aged five to nine accounted for the highest number of infections at 300, followed by those aged 10 to 14 with 258 cases, IPHO data showed.
People aged 40 and above recorded 251 cases; those aged 20 to 29, 229; 15 to 19, 190; one to four, 164; 30 to 39, 92; and infants below one year old, 81.
The IPHO also detected clustering — or at least three cases within a four-consecutive-week period — in 23 localities.
Clusters were recorded in Ajuy’s barangays Bato Biasong, four cases; Bay-ang, three; Culasi, three; Mangorocoro, three; and Poblacion, seven; Alimodian’s Poblacion, 10; Balasan’s Maya, eight; Banate’s De La Paz, six; and Barotac Viejo’s San Lucas, four.
Batad had clusters in Bulak Sur with seven cases and Poblacion with four; Cabatuan in Banguit and Tabucan with three each; Calinog in Dalid with six and Libot with five; and Passi City in Imbang Grande with seven and Poblacion Ilawod with five.
Concepcion recorded clusters in Bacjawan Sur with three cases, Lo-ong with five and Poblacion with three; Dingle in Lincud with four and Calicuang with three; and Dumangas in Balabag with three, Pulao with nine and Sulangan with four.
Estancia posted clusters in Bayuyan with 16 cases, Botongon with three, Bulaqueña with four, Poblacion Zone 1 with four, San Roque with four and Tacbuyan with 10.
Clusters were also recorded in Lambunao’s Cabugao with three cases and Caniguan with six; Maasin’s Buntalan with four and Cabatac with three; Oton’s Mambong with three; Pavia’s Tigum with three; San Dionisio’s Cubay with three, Sua with four and Borongon with four; San Enrique’s Cubay with five; and San Miguel’s Santo Niño with five.
San Rafael recorded clusters in Aripdip with three cases and Poscolon with five; Santa Barbara in Zone V with four, Binangkilan with three and Bitaog-Taytay with three; and Tigbauan in Dorong-an with five.
Quiñon said IPHO inspection teams found numerous mosquito breeding grounds in communities with high case numbers, including discarded materials and improperly managed solid waste.
She appealed to residents to clean their homes and surroundings and destroy mosquito breeding sites, stressing that household cleanliness cannot be left solely to health workers and local officials.
“Ang inyo ugsaran, inyo panglimpyuhan. Indi responsibilidad sang aton barangay health workers, mga barangay officials kag local government unit officials nga magpaninlu sa inyo panimalay, sa sulod man kag sagwa,” added Quiñon./PN
