By Mariela Angella Oladive
Iloilo province leads Region 6 in dengue cases and deaths, according to the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO).
“In the whole Region 6, we are now number one for the highest number of dengue cases and deaths. We urgently need to unite and help each other,” IPHO chief Maria Socorro Quiñon confirmed in a statement on July 4.
“In just one week, 175 new cases have been added to our report, bringing the total to 1,462 cases from January 1 to June 29.
The death toll has reached five, with the first fatality in Lambunao, and two each in Badiangan and Miagao, primarily affecting teenagers and children,” she said, expressing deep concern over the situation.
She called on all barangay captains to activate the Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTs) across the 1,721 barangays in Iloilo.
“We need to alert our barangays and take immediate action against dengue. Activating the BHERTs will enable us to quickly control dengue. We should also promptly connect with the Rural Health Unit (RHU) if cases continue to rise in each barangay for indoor spraying,” Dr. Quiñon advised.
Meanwhile, 17 towns across the province reported clusters of cases, with Badiangan having the highest number of affected barangays.
“It is alarming because in Badiangan, particularly in Barangay Odiongan, where there are seven cases, the number of affected individuals is increasing significantly. This area is identified as the hotspot in the whole of Region 6 since there have already been two deaths and the number of cases continues to rise,” Dr. Quiñon noted
Highlighting the urgency, she urged barangays to maintain close communication with RHUs for immediate actions such as indoor residual spraying and other interventions to curb the rising cases.
Residents were advised to stay updated with official health advisories and actively engage in community-led dengue prevention efforts.
