Ilocos norte: The Ilocos Norte Provincial Health Office (PHO) on Tuesday reiterated its call for proactive measures against dengue in communities to maintain the province's zero-deaths record from the mosquito-borne disease. "To all our constituents, let us work together to prevent the spread of dengue in our province," Dr. Rickson Balalio, provincial health officer, said in an interview. Balalio emphasized the importance of cleanliness and avoiding mosquito bites, particularly during the daytime, as crucial strategies to prevent dengue.

According to Philippines News Agency, the latest report from the Provincial Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit indicates that there were 18 new dengue cases recorded from June 22 to 28 this year. From January 1 to June 28, there were a total of 272 dengue cases recorded in the province, with the majority occurring in Batac City (58), Laoag City (42), and Pinili town (20). The second district of the province recorded a higher number of dengue cases at 160 compared to the first district's 112.

In previous years, the Ilocos Region was among those closely monitored by the Department of Health (DOH) for exceeding the dengue alert threshold. However, it clarified that the alleged outbreak was confined to specific villages and not the entire province. As part of the information dissemination campaign, the DOH stresses its 5-S strategy: "Search and destroy" mosquito-breeding sites, employ "Self-protection measures", "Seek early consultation", "Support fogging/spraying" only in hotspot areas where the increase in cases is registered for two consecutive weeks to prevent an impending outbreak, and "Sustain hydration."

Since the start of classes, schools in the province have been alerted against dengue, especially during the rainy season.