The Ilocos Times

Laoag City —To address the increasing number of dengue cases, Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc signed Executive Order No. 15-19, enjoining the whole province to “exercise extreme vigilance against dengue,” on August 23, 2019. According to the Provincial Health Office’s (PHO) data, from January to August 16, 2019 Ilocos Norte recorded a total of 1,160 cases with two reported fatalities. PHO officer-in-charge Dr. Josephine Ruedas remarked that the province is on alert threshold, explaining, “Compared to last year, tumaas ang [dengue] cases dito . Last year, konti lang ang ating cases pero marami ang namatay .” As part of its response, the PHO is also conducting active surveillance in communities to identify the causes of the increasing number of dengue cases in the province. “We take this very seriously and I hope we can all do our part in combatting this problem,” Mr. Manotoc stressed. EO No. 15-19 also states that all local government units...

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff Reporter LAOAG CITY—The Provincial Health Office reminds all residents in the province to keep their surroundings clean to allow no room for Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. From January to July 2019, the Provincial Health Office has recorded a total of 418 cases mostly from Laoag City with 96, Badoc with 63 and Batac City with 34 cases. Of the 21 towns and two cities of the province, only the small town of Adams with less than 2,000 population, according to the PHO has zero dengue-related case so far this year. With the sudden increase of dengue cases this rainy season, the provincial government of Ilocos Norte in close coordination with the city, municipal and village health workers have intensified preventive measures against possible dengue outbreak. Earlier today, personnel of the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center in Batac City continue to conduct dengue awareness campaign at the hospital and in local communiti...

A health worker checks on a child. (Alaric Yanos) Laoag City —Alarmed by the increase of dengue-related deaths throughout the country, the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) through the Provincial Health Office (PHO) distributed Dengue NS1Ag, an early dengue diagnostic predictor; larvicides; and insecticides, as preventive measure for possible outbreak, to different rural health units and district hospitals in the province. This is in response to the “National Health Emergency” declaration of the Department of Health (DOH) on July 20, 2019 following the deaths of at least 491 people due to the mosquito-borne disease. On July 15, 2019, the DOH said the Ilocos Region is among those they are closely monitoring for exceeding the dengue alert threshold. As of July 3, 2019, there are 353 cases reported in Ilocos Norte, alone—an 18.9% increase compared to last year’s record. DOH clarified that the alleged outbreak in the Ilocos province were confined to specific ba...