SAN JOSE, Antique (PIA) — The Antique Provincial Health Office (PHO) reported an increase in dengue cases for the last seven weeks of 2025.
As of the first half of February, there were 491 cases of dengue, 271.97 percent higher than in the same morbidity period in 2024.
PHO urged local government units from the barangays to the municipalities to take action with the alarming increase in data per municipality.
The top five towns with high reported cases are Sebaste with 88 cases, Culasi with 77, Tibiao-71, Barbaza with 45, and Sibalom with 36 cases.
Deaths due to dengue were also recorded which includes a 7-year-old child from Culasi and a 15-year-old kid from Sebaste.
Nurse and Health Education and Promotion Officer designate Joenes Jereza reiterated the 4S strategy to ward off dengue mosquitoes.
He emphasized the sustained indoor and outdoor community cleanup drive, especially in some unattended residential lots where water is left stagnant.
Also, getting rid of stagnant water such as those in vases, plastic containers, bamboo poles, and empty bottles is needed as these could serve as breeding places for dengue mosquitoes.
Jereza also urged parents to bring their children or any suspected patients to the nearest health facility when symptoms of dengue occur.
Children are encouraged to have mosquito-repellent lotion to ward off the deadly insect.
For communities with clustering dengue cases, PHO enjoined the local officials to seek support from their Municipal Health so that they could receive support on spraying or fogging. (AGP/PSM/PIA Antique)
