Antique: Antique±os should not be complacent despite the declining dengue cases in the province. According to Philippines News Agency, Antique Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) Information Officer Irene Duldoco stated in an interview that they recorded 27 cases in the province for the April 13 to 19 monitoring period.

"The 27 dengue cases were monitored in the 12 municipalities of Antique," Duldoco said. The cases originated from Valderrama with six; Barbaza and Laua-an with four each; Sebaste and San Jose de Buenavista with three each; and Tibiao, Sibalom, Tobias Fornier, Bugasong, Hamtic, Anini-y, and Libertad with one each.

Duldoco noted that the dengue cases peaked during the monitoring period from February 23 to March 1, with 119 cases. The decline began from March 2 to 8, with 99 cases. "We have no more recorded deaths due to dengue as of now," Duldoco mentioned.

She attributed the declining trend to the clean-up activities conducted by households to eliminate mosquito-breeding sites. "People are now aware that they need to seek early treatment and cooperate during the fever surveillance by the Barangay Health Workers," she added.

The IPHO, along with Rural Health Units (RHUs) in the 18 municipalities and the eight district hospitals, conducts weekly monitoring of their logistics, such as dengue test kits and dextrose needed for early interventions on patients. Additionally, larvicide and insecticide are available for spraying in municipalities with clustering of cases or when there are two or more cases for four weeks.

IPHO has monitored 1,188 cases, including three deaths, from January 1 to April 20, which is higher than the 211 cases recorded for the same period last year.