ILOILO City – Health authorities are intensifying tuberculosis screening across Iloilo City after 1,520 cases were reported in the first half of 2026, even as many residents suspected of having the infectious disease have yet to seek medical attention.
The total represents 51 percent of the City Health Office’s (CHO) full-year notification target of 2,972 cases, underscoring both the scale of the city’s TB burden and the need to find undiagnosed patients before they spread the disease to their families and communities.
Estrella Fortuna, nurse IV and tuberculosis program coordinator of the CHO, said 793 cases were documented in the first quarter and another 727 in the second quarter.
Most patients were between 25 and 45 years old.
“Sige-sige ang aton pag-screen kag pag-advocate ka TB program. Half of the target naton na-reach naman naton. Aton target is 2,972, may ara na kita 1,520 nga na-notify,” Fortuna said.
In 2025, Iloilo City recorded 2,840 notified cases against a target of 3,004, equivalent to a 95-percent accomplishment rate.
The city is seeking to maintain notification and TB preventive treatment rates above 90 percent through expanded screening, public education and closer monitoring of patients.
Tuberculosis is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and commonly attacks the lungs. It spreads through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, speaks or sings.
The disease is preventable and curable, but it can become serious or fatal when left untreated.
Active TB causes illness and can be transmitted to others, while latent TB occurs when the bacteria remain in the body without causing symptoms. People with latent TB are not contagious, but the infection can later develop into active disease.
The four cardinal warning signs are a cough lasting two weeks or longer, unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite and drenching night sweats.
“Understanding that TB can spread through respiratory interactions — such as close conversations or singing — underscores the need for immediate health consultations among families with known TB cases,” Fortuna emphasized.
“We are here to provide help, and all medications are offered at no charge. However, it is essential for patients to cooperate with health workers to ensure effective treatment,” she added.
The CHO provides free TB preventive therapy to household contacts of infected patients to reduce the risk of transmission within families.
Patients generally undergo six months of treatment and must complete their medication regimen. Failure to do so could produce drug-resistant TB, which is more difficult and costly to treat.
The city operates a network of 15 facilities supporting its TB program, including district health centers and four hospitals: Iloilo Doctors’ Hospital, Western Visayas Medical Center, West Visayas State University Medical Center and St. Paul’s Hospital.
These facilities diagnose, monitor and report cases while helping patients gain access to treatment.
As part of National Lung Month, the CHO will conduct free chest X-rays on Aug. 25 at the M.H. del Pilar Gym in Jaro district. Senior citizens will be prioritized, although the service will be open to everyone aged 15 and older.
“We strongly encourage our community members to take advantage of these complimentary services, especially if they exhibit symptoms correlating to the four cardinal signs of TB: a chronic cough lasting two weeks or more, unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite, and drenching night sweats,” Fortuna said.
The CHO also plans to bring its screening and treatment campaign to barangays in Molo, La Paz, Mandurriao and Lapuz./PN
