ILOILO CITY (PIA) – Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. has urged the residents to be vigilant and take all necessary precautions as the province has been placed in a blue alert status due to the increasing number of dengue cases.
Defensor, in a press conference, said that residents should be mindful of their surroundings as the provincial government already started monitoring and implementing necessary measures against dengue.
“We have been monitoring and already started the implementation of the 4S strategy (Search and Destroy, Secure Self-Protection, Seek Early Consultation, and Say Yes to Fogging) even through our Limpyo Iloilo campaign. We have also prepared the province in the areas of dengue test kits, IV fluids and bed capacities of hospitals,” he said, noting that they are working together with the rural health units and local chief executives.
The governor added that they are ready to provide financial assistance to the municipalities to boost their capacity, particularly in intensifying fogging activities in the community.
Data from the Provincial Health Office (PHO), as of August 10, 2024, indicated that there are 4,595 dengue cases in Iloilo with 10 fatalities, which is 319.6 percent higher compared to 1,095 cases in the same period last year.
Records from the PHO also revealed that 241 individuals are currently admitted in different hospitals in Iloilo, which Defensor described as still “manageable.”
“Still, the space in our hospital is still manageable and we are prepared to make our COVID-19 facilities as bed spaces if it is needed. It is not happening now and we don’t want it to happen, but we are also prepared in case our tertiary hospitals become full,” the governor said.
The PHO, on the other hand, asks residents to immediately seek medical treatment when they have symptoms of dengue, stressing the importance of early detection to avoid further complications.
Some symptoms of dengue include fever, headache, nausea, rash, aches and pains in eyes, muscles, joints and bones, and feeling tired, restless, or irritable. (AAL/JNH/PIA Iloilo)
