The Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) urged the public to focus on searching and destroying vector-breeding places because mosquitoes could not be eliminated by just mere sweeping.

IPHO chief Dr. Maria Socorro Quiñon said on Monday that based on the feedback from sanitary inspectors, they found garbage, clogged drainage, and stagnant rainwater in areas where there are dengue cases.

“Our concern does not involve health alone, but it has to be a whole-of-society approach to stop dengue because of the risk. Cases continue to rise. More cases of dengue, the higher the risk of more deaths,” she said in a media interview.

She added that the Provincial Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (PESU) is yet to release its 33rd weekly monitoring report.

So far, the province has registered 11 deaths, the latest of which was the case of a three-year-old child from Barotac Nuevo town who died on Aug. 12.

From Jan. 1 until Aug. 10, the province had 4,595 cases, higher by 320 percent compared with the 1,095 cases in the same period last year.

Passi City and the towns of Miagao, Tigbauan, and Oton have already declared states of calamity, while Badiangan declared an outbreak.

As part of the prevention efforts, the IPHO conducted dengue monitoring and advocacy sessions in the villages of Banate, Lambunao, Santa Barbara, Leon, Barotac Nuevo, Pavia, and Alimodian towns, stressing the importance of the 4 o’clock habit and the 4S strategy namely Search and destroy mosquito breeding sites, Secure self-protection, Seek early consultation, and Say yes to fogging and spraying.

Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. also issued Executive Order No. 174 on Aug. 15, setting the guidelines and protocols to improve patient care and optimize the operations of health facilities.

The provincial disaster risk reduction and management council also recommended placing the province under a state of calamity for approval by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. (PNA)