BY GEROME DALIPE IV
ILOILO City – The City Health Office (CHO) has raised an alarm over the increasing number of dengue cases in various districts in the metropolis. The CHO reported 649 confirmed cases with two deaths and 42 active cases as of Aug. 13.
But Dr. Roland Jay Fortuna, CHO medical officer, said they could not yet declare an outbreak due to dengue in Iloilo City since the number of dengue cases has not reached the epidemic threshold.
Such a threshold is determined based on historical data and statistical analysis, typically reflecting a significant increase in cases over what is expected for that time of year.
When the number of dengue cases in an area surpasses this threshold, it indicates that the situation has moved beyond normal seasonal fluctuations and requires intensified public health interventions to control the outbreak.
Dr. Fortuna urged residents to take preventive measures, such as eliminating mosquito breeding sites, using insect repellent, and seeking early medical attention if symptoms appear. City health officials have also been conducting awareness campaigns to educate residents on dengue prevention.
These campaigns emphasize the importance of the 4S strategy: search and destroy breeding sites, self-protection measures, seek early consultation, and support fogging/spraying only in hotspot areas.
The city government has asked residents to ramp up their efforts to eliminate mosquito breeding sites, which are crucial in controlling the spread of dengue.
In Region 6, the Department of Health (DOH) recorded 10,188 cases, with 20 deaths from Jan. 1 until Aug. 3 this year.
Hence, it has activated its Regional Dengue Task Force and Inter-Agency in preparation for the outbreak and response strategies.
Dr. Bea Natalaray, Medical Officer IV of the Infectious Disease Cluster, announced the task force is composed of several DOH WV CHD units involved in the surveillance, supply distribution and monitoring of hospitals.
The DOH has already provided mosquito control commodities, including mosquito nets and machines for indoor residual spraying; diagnostic commodities, such as dengue NS1 kits and rapid antibody test kits; and treatment commodities to local government units.
Data from the DOH-6 showed that dengue cases in the region were higher by 114 percent when compared with the same period last year, with 4,760 cases, including 23 deaths.
Iloilo province has 3,914; Negros Occidental has 1,584; Aklan has 1,319; Capiz, 1,083; Guimaras, 809; Antique, 637; Iloilo City, 482; and Bacolod City, 360.
Iloilo and Negros Occidental have six deaths each, Capiz has three, and the rest of the fatalities came from the remaining provinces and highly urbanized cities.
The Iloilo Provincial Health Office also reported that Passi City declared a state of calamity on Aug. 9.
after recording the highest cases in the province./PN
