ILOILO CITY – Amid a sharp rise in dengue fever cases and related fatalities in Western Visayas, the Department of Health’s regional center has called for immediate medical consultations for symptomatic individuals. The increase marks a significant surge compared to the previous year’s figures, underscoring a growing health crisis in the region.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Department of Health Western Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH-WV CHD), there have been 18,056 reported cases of dengue and 42 deaths from January 1 to August 24 this year. These figures represent a 229 percent increase from the 5,491 cases and 25 deaths recorded during the same period last year. The last report week alone saw an additional 2,368 cases and 11 deaths, highlighting the rapid spread of the disease.
Dr. Bea Camille Natalaray, program medical coordinator for the emerging and re-emerging infectious disease cluster at DOH-WV CHD, emphasized the urgency of seeking medical attention at early stages of symptom manifestation. “Let us not hesitate to seek early consultation because in our health facilities, we have distributed thousands of NS1 kits, and these are given free in our health facilities,” she stated during a virtual press briefing. Dr. Natalaray also stressed the critical 48-hour window for bringing children with symptoms to health facilities for better management and outcomes.
The health department has intensified its dengue control efforts, including case and serotype surveillance, outbreak response monitoring, clinical management refresher courses, pesticide application training, and conducting reviews of dengue-related deaths. Since last week, 5,590 NS1 diagnostic kits and 3,571 insecticide-treated rolls have been distributed across the region to aid in combating the outbreak.
The most affected areas include Iloilo with 7,020 cases, followed by Negros Occidental with 2,864, and Aklan with 1,919. The department noted that 959 barangays across the region are experiencing case clusters, with 20 identified as hotspot areas due to sustained increases in cases and deaths. Dr. Natalaray added that the most affected age groups are those between 11 to 20 years old and 1 to 10 years old, comprising 34.4% and 31.7% of the cases, respectively.