ANTIQUE – This province’s dengue cases have already breached the 1,000-mark.
From January 1 to June 25, 2022, Antique logged a total of 1,174 dengue cases with four deaths – 431 percent higher compared to the 221 cases recorded in the same period last year.
San Jose, the province’s capital town, still recorded the highest number of cases with 262, followed by Sibalom with 237 with one death, and Hamtic – 148 cases with two deaths.
The rest of the towns reported the following cases: Bugasong (122 cases with one death), Anini-y (77), San Remigio (65), Tobias Fornier (47), Valderrama (37), Patnongon (32), Belison (31), Sebaste (28), Barbaza (26), Tibiao (20), Laua-an (19), Pandan (10), Culasi (seven), Caluya (five), and Libertad (one).
The age range of dengue cases in the province is two months to 84 years old, data from Antique Provincial Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response Unit showed.
Meanwhile, Antique Provincial Health Office (PHO) head Dr. Leoncio Abiera Jr. reiterated their call to Antiqueños to intensify the 4S strategy against dengue especially this rainy season to prevent the spread of dengue.
“Ginapanawagan gid namon diri sa PHO ang aton pag-intensify sang 4S campaign. So, kon ma-practice naton dya amat-amat naton nga mapanaba ng kaso sang dengue sa aton probinsya,” Abiera said.
Last week, Governor Rhodora Cadiao called on every household to always practice the 4S strategy against dengue namely: Search and destroy mosquito-breeding sites; employ Self-protection measures; Seek early consultation; and Support fogging/spraying only in hotspot areas.
She said that everyone’s cooperation in maintaining the cleanliness of the surroundings and destroying breeding places of mosquitoes is vital in reducing the risk of being bitten by dengue-carrying mosquitoes.
The provincial government has already extended assistance to the towns with the highest number of dengue cases by distributing larvicides and fogging machines.
PHO’s dengue monitoring team is also consistent in their dengue information dissemination for a more effective search and destroy operation./PN