ILOILO – With dengue cases dropping, Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. plans to lift the dengue outbreak declaration he made in July last year.
Data from the provincial government’s Hospital Management Office showed nine dengue patients remaining in district hospitals and there were no more new dengue hospital admissions.
The number of cases was now below the “alert threshold”, said Provincial Health Office’s (PHO) Dr. Patricia Grace Trabado.
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.
The surge in dengue cases last year resulted to hospitals bursting at the seams with patients. There was a shortage in hospital rooms, beds, doctors, and nurses.
The demand for blood (for blood transfusion to dengue patients) also spiked.
“There is an epidemic threshold and alert threshold. By the 49th morbidity week, we were already below the alert level,” said Trabado.
By the 50th morbidity week (Dec. 8 to 14, 2019), PHO recorded 36 cases and 24 of Iloilo’s 43 local government units (LGUs) recorded no new cases.
These 24 LGUs were Cabatuan, Passi City, Maasin, Sara, Ajuy, Leon, Janiuay, San Dionisio, Banate, Concepcion, Leganes, Tigbauan, Miag-ao, Dueñas, Igbaras, New Lucena, Mina, Zarraga, Bingawan, Barotac Viejo, San Enrique, Lemery, San Rafael, and Tubungan.
Last year from Jan. 1 to Dec. 14 PHO recorded 22,040 dengue cases with 78 deaths. This was 882 percent higher than 2018’s PHO-recorded 2,244 cases with six deaths and 2017’s 1,321 cases with eight deaths.
Five areas with the most number of cases were Pototan (1,464 cases with 12 deaths), Calinog (955 cases with three deaths), Dumangas (954 cases with two deaths), Cabatuan (927 cases with five deaths), and Passi City (896 cases with one death).
On the other hand, the five areas with the least number of cases were San Joaquin (122 cases with one death), Tubungan (150 cases with one death), San Rafael (152 cases), Guimbal (167 cases with one death), and Batad (185 cases).
But despite the steep drop in dengue cases, Trabado urged Ilonggos not to let their guard down because dengue has become a year-round illness.
She said the “4S” campaign must be sustained – search and destroy mosquito breeding places; self-protection measures; seek early consultation for fever lasting more than two days; and say “no” to indiscriminate fogging./PN
