ILOILO – Cases of hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD) in the province are declining, data from the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) showed.
Here is the breakdown of HFMD cases from morbidity week No. 1 (Jan. 1 to Jan. 7) to morbidity week No. 9 (Feb. 26 to March 4):
* first morbidity week – 130 cases
* second morbidity week – 179 cases
* third morbidity week – 306 cases
* fourth morbidity week – 391 cases
* fifth morbidity week – 425 cases
* sixth morbidity week – 216 cases
* seventh morbidity week – 419 cases
* eighth morbidity week – 141 cases
* ninth morbidity week – 295 cases
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. is hoping the cases already peaked in morbidity week No. 5 with 425.
HFMD is characterized by painful sores in the mouth and a rash on the hands and feet.
Commonly caused by the coxsackievirus, this contagious infection occurs mostly in children.
From Jan. 1 to March 4, the province logged a total of 2,703 cases – 1,845 percent higher than the 139 cases recorded in the same period in 2022.
Defensor also said almost all of the 2,703 cases have recovered except for those recorded in the latest morbidity week who may still be recovering.
Cooperation leads to decrease in cases
IPHO head, Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon, said the cooperation of all stakeholders, including local government units (LGUs), Department of Education (DepEd) and parents caused the drop in HFMD cases.
She said LGUs may have effectively implemented the governor’s order – Prevention, Detection, Isolation, Treatment and Reintegration strategy.
Colmenares-Quiñon added DepEd’s appeal to parents to not send a child with signs and symptoms to school has helped.
Another factor the IPHO head cited was the frequent disinfection using the disinfectants distributed in Child Development Centers or daycare centers.
The IPHO is also integrating the information and education campaigns on HFMD with other programs like the recent National Oral Health Month celebration.
“Ang aton LGUs together with the IPHO naga-conduct advocacy, gina-integrate sa other programs, and we were able to do information and education campaigns in 10 LGUs. That’s why naga-decline ang cases,” added Colmenares-Quiñon.
IPHO data showed children in daycare centers are mostly affected by the disease.
Here is the breakdown of cases per age group:
* Less than one year old – 197 cases
* One to 10 years old – 2,441 cases
* 11 to 20 years old – 51 cases
* 21 to 30 years old – seven cases
* 31 years old and above – five cases
The 20 LGUs with the highest HFMD cases are Santa Barbara (350 cases), Alimodian (170), Calinog (143), Badiangan (136), Leon (127), Barotac Viejo (125), Mina (118), New Lucena (102), Passi City (97), and Bingawan (94 cases), Janiuay (88), Dumangas (84), Banate (79), Sara (74), Tigbauan (73), Pototan (70), Igbaras (69), Maasin (67), San Rafael (63) and Barotac Nuevo (62).
HFMD cases in Santa Barbara
Colmenares-Quiñon explained that Santa Barbara has the highest HFMD cases this year because the town has designated personnel in each barangay to monitor water safety, and detect and report HFMD cases.
“Noteworthy hambalon nga ang Santa Barbara may personnel sia ‘ya per barangay who would monitor water safety; likewise, nakita man nila nga kadamo ang HFMD sa barangays and na-report,” explained the IPHO head.
HFMD may cause all of the following signs and symptoms or just some of them:
* fever
* sore throat
* feeling unwell
* painful, red, blister-like lesions on the tongue, gums, and inside of the cheeks
* a red rash, without itching but sometimes with blistering, on the palms, soles, and sometimes the buttocks
* irritability in infants and toddlers
* loss of appetite./PN
