By Rjay Zuriaga Castor and Mariela Angella Oladive
Iloilo City continues to grapple with a surge in dengue cases as it reported 21 new cases and another death, according to the latest data from the City Health Office (CHO).
The CHO confirmed that the latest fatality is a 9-year-old boy from Sambag, Jaro, raising the city’s dengue death toll to four.
The boy, who had been admitted to the Western Visayas Medical Center on August 1, passed away on August 16.
It was later revealed that he was also suffering from leukemia, and his dengue diagnosis was confirmed through testing.
As of August 25, the total number of dengue cases in the city has reached 895, with 866 recoveries and 25 active cases remaining.
The number of villages with clustering of cases has also increased, rising from 40 on August 17 to 62.
Clustering is defined as more than two dengue cases recorded in a barangay within two consecutive weeks, indicating a heightened risk to residents.
In response to the growing number of cases, the city recently opened a 30-bed hydration unit on the second floor of La Paz Maternity and Reproductive Health Center in the La Paz district to treat patients with mild dengue symptoms.
The facility operates 24 hours a day, with two doctors and five nurses working in eight-hour shifts.
The CHO reiterated its call for the public to maintain cleanliness both inside and outside their homes and to seek immediate medical consultation if they experience fever or other symptoms associated with dengue.
“Know the symptoms and seek early consultation with your doctor for immediate medical attention. Stay alert and practice the 4S habit,” the CHO advised.
The CHO also noted that all four dengue serotypes are currently present in the city, leading to varying symptoms among patients.
