ILOILO CITY — Following the death of a 69-year-old woman due to dengue, the first fatality reported this year, the City Health Office (CHO) has called for increased vigilance and preventive measures against the disease.
According to Philippines News Agency, head of the CHO, during a press conference on Monday, the woman from Barangay Tabuc Suba was already in a severe condition with jaundice when admitted to the hospital last week. Her death was primarily due to dengue, compounded by a leptospirosis infection. "We have to be on high alert because it's rainy season," Dr. Tang emphasized, signaling the increased risk of dengue during this period.
Despite the recent fatality, Dr. Tang mentioned that the city's 73 dengue cases recorded from February until July 12 remain below the alert threshold. However, the city is not taking any chances. A new hydration unit is being set up at the La Paz Maternity and Reproductive Health Center in the La Paz district to better manage dengue cases. This unit, expected to be operational by the end of the week, will feature 25 hospital beds and be staffed with medical personnel and supplies. Originally a quarantine facility, this unit is designed to provide short-term care. "The protocol states that if the patient needs to be hydrated for more than 24 to 48 hours, then the patient has to be admitted," Dr. Tang clarified.
Furthermore, as part of a broader community effort to curb the mosquito-borne disease, Iloilo City's 180 barangays have initiated a simultaneous cleanup drive every Saturday, aimed at eliminating potential mosquito breeding sites.