Iloilo province records 17 deaths due to dengue

The number of dengue fatalities in Iloilo province has reached 17 as of Aug 24, the Iloilo Provincial Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (PESU) reported Thursday. Iloilo Provincial Health Office head, Dr. Maria Socorro Quiñon, said that 11 of the 17 deaths happened in August. She urged the public to cooperate with the government in its effort to search and destroy breeding places to avoid more deaths caused by dengue-carrying mosquitoes. "To protect our neighbors, family, and community, let us join in searching and destroying breeding places," she said, adding that mere sweeping is not enough and they have to focus on destroying mosquito-breeding sites. Quiñon said the higher the cases, the more risk of deaths. From Jan 1 to Aug. 24, the province recorded 6,799 cases, a 492.2 percent increase compared with the 1,151 cases posted during the same period last year. "The whole of the province already has cases, including all municipalities and one component city. In fact, our clustering of cases increased to 388 from 357 last week. Unfortunately, we have hotpot barangays," she added. In a press conference, Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. said the provincial government is firming up the needed funds to augment the efforts of local government units, such as the provision of dengue test kits, intravenous fluid (IV) fluid, and hospital bed space. 'Our dengue test kits, we are expecting deliveries to augment what we have right now. We will also help hospitals and RHUs (rural health units). IV fluids, we continue to procure them, and we are expecting augmentation for hospitals,' he said. Defensor said hospital bed utilization is declining, now at 194 from more than 200 last week. Last week, the governor visited district hospitals to look into the condition of dengue patients. 'Again, based on the behavior of the virus in 2019, it may go down in September,' he added. Source: Philippines News agency