IPHO verifies ‘dengue outbreak’ in Tubungan town
TUBUNGAN, Iloilo – A team from the Epidemiologic Surveillance Unit (ESU) of Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) visited Brgy. Cadapdap of this town yesterday to check the status of 15 suspected dengue cases initially reported from the said barangay.
According to IPHO assistant chief Ma. Socorro Quiñon, once her team confirms that those cases are positive, it means the area has dengue outbreak.
“An area with highest number of reported dengue cases is not a good indication,” she stressed.
Dengue is transmitted by Aedes egypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. These are day-biting mosquitoes that breed in clear, stagnant waters.
A total of four deaths were already recorded in Iloilo province from January up to the present.
Casualties came from towns of Guimbal, Oton, Pototan and one component city of Passi.
Once again, the IPHO reminds the public not to ignore simple fever.
Quiñon said that fever should be checked by physician so that early medication and treatment should be given.
Last year from January to June 10, a total of 286 dengue cases were already recorded by the IPHO.
So far, Quiñon said that they are expecting the number of dengue cases will increase during rainy season.
June is considered the month of rainy season; thus, the IPHO advised the public to clean their surroundings and to properly dispose tin cans, empty bottles, used tires and other containers that are potential breeding areas of dengue-carrying mosquitoes.
In Western Visayas region, the Department of Health 6 (DOH-6) has so far recorded a total of 1,311 cases – with seven deaths – from January to May 8 this year.
Negros Occidental has the highest number of recorded cases at 380 with two deaths, followed by Bacolod City with 266 cases. Iloilo Province has 231 cases with four deaths, while Iloilo City has 126 cases.
There were 194 cases in Capiz, 79 in Aklan, with one death, 16 in Guimaras and 12 in Antique.
