Dengue cases reach epidemic level in Iloilo province

ILOILO CITY—Dengue cases in Iloilo have reached epidemic levels, nearly two years after the province was declared a calamity area due to the disease.

Dr. Socorro Quiñon, assistant provincial health officer, said the number of dengue cases had consistently surpassed the epidemic threshold last month, reaching 826 cases with 15 deaths as of June 30.

She said the number of cases was higher than the average number of cases for the past five years.

The number of cases was 330 percent higher than the 192 cases with one death reported over the same period last year. It was also higher by 10.28 percent than the 749 cases with seven deaths reported from January to June in 2010.

The cases were reported in all of the province’s 41 towns and Passi City. The most number of cases were reported in Dumangas (78 with two deaths), Pavia (77 with three deaths), Oton (61), Leon (52 with one death) and Janiuay (45 with one death).

Most of the cases (674) involved those aged below 20.

The province was among those placed under a state of calamity in August 2010 after the number of cases reached 1,670. Nestor P. Burgos Jr.,Inquirer Visayas