FROM JANUARY TO JULY 2025

THE Sangguniang Panlalawigan held a Question Hour on Monday to assess the rise of dengue and leptospirosis cases in Pangasinan, with health officials reporting more than 3,000 dengue cases and 23 deaths from January to July this year.

Acting Provincial Health Officer Dr. Vivian Villar-Espino said a total of 3,269 dengue cases were recorded in the province during the seven-month period, with 23 confirmed fatalities.

Following the recent typhoon and the resulting floods, 158 new dengue cases were logged, raising concerns over post-disaster disease outbreaks.

Municipalities with the highest number of dengue cases include Rosales, followed by Umingan, San Manuel, Asingan, Mangatarem, Alaminos City, Balungao, Sta. Barbara, San Fabian, and San Quintin.

As for leptospirosis, Espino reported 62 cases and 8 deaths. Only three new cases were diagnosed following the typhoon. The municipalities currently under the Provincial Health Office (PHO) watchlist for disease surveillance are Mangatarem, Bugallon, Mangaldan, San Fabian, and Tayug.

During the session, Fourth District Board Member and Committee on Health Chair Dr. Jerry Agerico Rosario raised concerns about the completeness and reliability of health data used in planning and response.

Espino confirmed that both private and public hospitals report dengue and leptospirosis cases to the PHO. However, she clarified that Department of Health (DOH)-run hospitals like the Region 1 Medical Center and Conrado F. Estrella Regional Medical Center only send weekly summaries, and not full data integration.

Rosario stressed the importance of consistent and comprehensive data-sharing, warning that poor data leads to poor policies.

“I think there should be a requirement for DOH hospitals to fully share data with the PHO. If we have bad data, then we formulate bad policies,” he said, urging greater coordination between provincial and national health institutions. (Eva Visperas)

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