By Annabel Petinglay
ILOILO CITY, (PNA) -– Dengue cases are now declining in the province of Iloilo with 65 cases only monitored from Aug 25 to 31 or on the 35th morbidity week.
Dr. Ma. Socorro Colmenares Quinon of the Iloilo Provincial Health Office said the dengue cases in the province started to decline Aug. 4-10 or on the 32nd morbidity week when there were only 296 cases including one death.
She said that the decline of the cases is due to the massive clean up drive led by Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor together with the barangay officials.
The governor if recalled brought the capitol employees for a “Do Day” against dengue in Brgy. Tiring, Cabatuan last week of May this year as part of strengthening the awareness and encouraging the barangay officials and the community people to themselves observe the 4 o ‘clock habit of cleaning their surroundings and getting rid of the mosquito breeding places.
Cabatuan ranks number two among all the 42 towns and one component city of Iloilo province with 363 total cases including four deaths monitored from Jan. 1 to Aug. 31. But last May when the Do Day was conducted the town really topped the list.
Dr. Quinon further said that after the Do Day in Cabatuan the cleanliness drive was carried on by the barangay officials, which is why dengue cases in Iloilo province are now declining.
The doctor also said that those people inflicted by the disease have developed immunity on the strain that is why there is also a decrease on dengue cases.
Prior to the Aug. 4-10 or the 32nd morbidity week,dengue cases monitored were more than 100 per morbidity week peaking to as many as 473 cases on July 7-13 or the 28th morbidity week.
The IPHO monitoring of dengue cases started January 1-5 or the 1st morbidity week where there were 40 cases including one death. The cases monitored from then on kept on climbing until it first reached 102 or the hundredth threshold on May 12-18 or the 20th morbidity week and taking a peak on July 7-13 or 28th morbidity week, followed by 446 cases on July 14-20 or 29th morbidity week, and 429 cases on July 21-27 or 30th morbidity week.
Dr. Quinon said that the governor wanting to ensure that the decline on dengue cases would further progress has instructed the IPHO personnel to continue on with their advocacy campaign.