By Mariela Angella Oladive
The number of dengue deaths in Iloilo province climbed to eight after a 20-year-old woman from Dueñas town died from complications of the disease on April 10.
The Iloilo Provincial Health Office reported that the victim first developed fever, chills, and loss of appetite on April 3 while staying in Iloilo City.
She self-medicated with paracetamol before returning home to Dueñas on April 4.
Her symptoms worsened on April 5 and 6, including persistent vomiting, but she still did not consult a doctor.
On April 7, she complained of abdominal pain and dizziness and was brought to Don Valerio Palmares Sr. Memorial District Hospital in Passi City.
Due to her worsening condition, she was transferred to a tertiary hospital the following day.
She was admitted to the intensive care unit but died on April 10 due to multi-organ dysfunction syndrome caused by dengue.
The seven other fatalities include a 27-year-old woman from Balasan, a 47-year-old man from Carles, a two-year-old girl from Tigbauan, a six-year-old boy from Pototan, an 11-month-old boy from Oton, a 67-year-old woman from Pototan, and a 71-year-old man from Carles.
As of April 19, the province recorded a total of 1,431 dengue cases, an 82 percent increase compared to 788 cases and three deaths recorded during the same period last year.
Of 43 towns, San Joaquin recorded the highest number of cases at 118, followed by Oton with 86 cases and one death, Leon with 79, Cabatuan with 70, Dumangas with 67, Lambunao with 57, San Dionisio with 55, Janiuay with 45, and Ajuy and Banate with 41 each.
Children aged 1 to 9 years old remain the most vulnerable, accounting for 513 of the total cases.
Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon, head of the Iloilo Provincial Health Office, warned that if the current trend continues, dengue cases in the province could exceed 21,000 with up to 65 deaths by the end of the year, based on projections from the Provincial Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit.
Clustering of dengue cases — defined as three or more cases in a barangay within four consecutive weeks — has been observed in eight barangays across eight municipalities.
Dr. Quiñon urged residents to help curb the spread of dengue.
“Let us regularly clean our surroundings and actively join our ‘Limpyo Iloilo, Kada Lunes nga Lihok Kontra Lamok’ campaign to help prevent the spread of mosquitoes and dengue,” she said.
The Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office is currently enforcing Executive Order No. 29, signed by Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. on March 27.
The order mandates the “Limpyo Iloilo, Kada Lunes nga Lihok Kontra Lamok” program, which calls for intensified clean-up drives every Monday.
These operations focus on eliminating mosquito breeding sites such as stagnant water containers and unmanaged garbage.
Residents are also encouraged to follow the Department of Health’s 4S strategy:
-Search and destroy mosquito breeding sites
-Secure self-protection measures
-Seek early medical consultation for symptoms
-Support fogging or spraying operations in hotspot areas
