By John Noel E. Herrera
The Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) noted a downward trend in dengue cases based on Iloilo Provincial Epidemiological and Surveillance Unit’s (IPESU) morbidity week records.
IPHO chief Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon said that dengue cases in the province started to go down from morbidity week 28 to 33.
On morbidity week 28 (July 9 to July 16), the IPESU recorded 220 cases then it started to decline to 201 in week 29 (July 16 to 23).
Here is the record of the dengue case trend in the province:
Morbidity week 30 (July 23 to 30) – 204 cases
Morbidity week 31 (July 30 to Aug 6) – 161 cases
Morbidity week 32 (Aug 6 to 13) – 111 cases
Morbidity week 33 (Aug 13 to 20) – 80 cases
Quiñon urged the public to continue cleaning the surroundings and practice the 5 o’clock habit and the 5S strategies.
The 5S strategies include: Search and destroy mosquito breeding sites, self-protection measures, seek early consultation, and support fogging and spraying only in dengue hot spot areas, and sustain hydration.
Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor also said that the downtrend in dengue cases is a good indication that the programs of the provincial government against dengue are working.
“We are monitoring our status here in the province and we are doing well in responding to it, so it must show that we don’t really have too many adjustments, because I think, our preemptive measures are doing well,” Defensor added.
He also said in the past that despite the increase in numbers compared to last year, he did not see the situation as alarming because of the declining trend of cases every week.
Data from IPHO indicated that Iloilo province recorded a total of 2,066 dengue cases with 16 fatalities, 542 percent higher compared to 322 cases with one death recorded last year.
These are the towns in Iloilo with most number of cases: Oton (210), San Joaquin (181), Tubungan (160), Guimbal (145 cases with three deaths), Banate (143), Miag-ao (103 cases with two deaths), Pototan (99), Dumangas (93 cases with one death), Leon (83), and Tigbauan (70).
The Department of Health (DOH) in Western Visayas also reported that from Aug 13 to 20, the region logged 414 new dengue cases – the first time in seven weeks that the cases are lower than 500.
As of Aug 20, Western Visayas logged a total of 10,899 dengue cases with 63 fatalities, higher compared to only 1,557 cases in the same period last year.
