ILOILO – Dengue and leptospirosis have claimed 30 lives in Iloilo province this year, underscoring the continuing threat from the two potentially fatal diseases despite an overall decline in reported infections.
Data from the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) showed 15 people died from dengue and another 15 from leptospirosis from January 4 to September 12, 2026.
The province recorded 3,191 dengue cases with 15 deaths during the period, 31 percent lower than the 4,593 cases and 19 deaths recorded during the same period last year.
Leptospirosis cases also dipped slightly to 132 from 133 last year, or by one percent. However, deaths rose sharply from nine during the comparable period in 2025 to 15 this year.
The figures prompted the IPHO to reiterate its call for communities to intensify preventive measures against both diseases, particularly environmental sanitation and the elimination of mosquito breeding grounds.
Dengue is a viral infection transmitted through the bite of an infected female Aedes aegypti mosquito. Symptoms include sudden high fever, severe headache, joint and muscle pain, skin rashes and, in some cases, bleeding. There is no specific cure, and severe dengue can be fatal without prompt medical treatment.
Leptospirosis, meanwhile, is a bacterial disease that can spread through direct contact with the urine of infected animals or with water, soil and other environments contaminated by infected urine. The bacteria may enter the body through cuts or abrasions in the skin or through the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose or mouth.
Early symptoms may include high fever, severe headache, muscle pain, chills, redness of the eyes, abdominal pain, jaundice, skin rashes and gastrointestinal problems.
ESTANCIA LEADS DENGUE DEATHS
Of the 15 dengue deaths, five were recorded in Estancia and three in Carles.
Ajuy, San Dionisio, Sara, Dingle, Miag-ao, San Rafael and San Joaquin each recorded one dengue death.
Estancia also posted the province’s highest dengue caseload with 307 cases and five deaths – a 237-percent increase from only 91 cases during the same period last year.
Other areas with high dengue caseloads included Calinog with 206 cases; Cabatuan, 180; Carles and Passi City, 175 each; Dumangas, 162; Ajuy, 136; and Concepcion and Lambunao, 109 each.
The other cases were recorded in Balasan, 99; Alimodian, 97; Tigbauan, 94; Oton, 93; Batad, 78; Maasin and San Dionisio, 76 each; Santa Barbara, 72; San Enrique, 70; Sara, 67; Pototan, 63; Dingle, 61; San Miguel, 60; Janiuay, 50; Miag-ao, 49; Banate, 48; Pavia, 47; San Rafael, 46; Leganes, 41; Barotac Viejo, 38; Dueñas, 32; Bingawan, 30; Anilao and Lemery, 29 each; Guimbal, 26; Leon, 24; Barotac Nuevo and Tubungan, 23 each; Zarraga, 20; San Joaquin and Igbaras, 18 each; Badiangan, 16; Mina, 11; and New Lucena, seven.
LEPTOSPIROSIS DEATHS RISE
For leptospirosis, Dumangas, Dingle and Dueñas recorded two deaths each.
Oton, Zarraga, Barotac Nuevo, Barotac Viejo, Sara, Banate, San Dionisio, San Joaquin and Concepcion each recorded one fatality.
Leptospirosis infections were recorded in 40 of Iloilo province’s 43 municipalities and Passi City.
Dumangas recorded the highest number with nine cases and two deaths, followed by Oton with eight cases and one death and Tigbauan with eight cases.
Dingle had seven cases with two deaths; Passi City and Santa Barbara had six cases each; while Janiuay, Pototan and Tubungan each recorded five cases. Zarraga and Barotac Nuevo also had five cases each, with one death in each municipality.
Cabatuan, Dueñas, Maasin and Pavia each recorded four cases, with two fatalities reported in Dueñas.
Three cases each were logged in Anilao, Balasan, Barotac Viejo, Leganes, Mina and Sara. Barotac Viejo and Sara each had one death.
Two cases each were recorded in Alimodian, Banate, Batad, Calinog, Lambunao, Lemery, Leon, Miag-ao, San Dionisio, San Enrique and San Joaquin.
Badiangan, Bingawan, Carles, Guimbal, Igbaras, New Lucena and San Miguel each had one case, while Concepcion recorded one death.
No leptospirosis cases were reported in Ajuy, Estancia and San Rafael.
‘DAILY COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY’
With dengue and leptospirosis cases continuing to be recorded, IPHO teams have been deployed to municipalities with high dengue incidence to conduct vector surveillance and entomological surveys together with sanitary inspectors of concerned local government units.
The surveillance identifies and assesses potential mosquito breeding grounds and gathers information that can guide timely dengue prevention and vector-control measures.
The IPHO stressed, however, that dengue prevention cannot rely on government surveillance alone and requires sustained action from households and communities.
Residents were urged to search their surroundings for mosquito breeding sites; destroy or remove containers that collect stagnant water; clean homes, yards and canals; properly cover water storage containers; and report persistent stagnant water or mosquito breeding areas to local health authorities.
“One breeding site can produce many mosquitoes. One community working together can prevent dengue. Let’s make dengue prevention a daily community responsibility. Protect your family, protect your neighbors, and take action before dengue takes action against us,” the IPHO reminded the public.
The IPHO, in collaboration with the Estancia Rural Health Unit, recently conducted an entomological survey in Barangay Poblacion Zone II, Estancia, the municipality currently recording the province’s highest number of dengue cases and deaths.
After the survey, the team proceeded to the municipal hall for a feedback session where its findings and recommendations were presented and discussed./PN
