A 44-year-old woman from the town of San Rafael died from dengue, bringing the total fatalities in the province of Iloilo this year to 33.
According to the Provincial Health Office (PHO), the woman succumbed to hypovolemic shock caused by dengue hemorrhagic fever.
The other fatalities were from Barotac Nuevo (four deaths), Badiangan (three), Igbaras (three), Miag-ao (two), Concepcion (two), Guimbal (two), Banate (two), Sara (two), Passi City (2), Calinog (1), Dingle (1), Lambunao (1), Santa Barbara (1), San Dionisio (1), Pavia (1), Lemery (1), Estancia (1), Tubungan (1), and San Rafael (1).
PHO recorded a total of 11, 550 cases from January 1 to December 7 this year, higher by 566 percent compared to 1,734 cases logged in the same period a year ago.
The town of Oton registered the highest cases in the province at 691, followed by Passi City (674), Leon (535), Calinog (499), Janiuay (491), Dingle (464), Lambunao (461), Barotac Nuevo (389), Dumangas (382), and Tigbauan (376).
Dengue, which mainly affects children, is transmitted through the bite of an Aedes mosquito, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Dengue symptoms include sudden onset of fever for two to seven days and at least two of the following: headache, body weakness, joint and muscle pains, pain behind the eyes, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea and skin rashes.IMT
