ILOILO CITY – The number of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) cases involving children in Iloilo province increased by 700 percent.
In a report released by the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO), 3,388 HFMD cases were recorded from Jan. 1 to June 24, compared to the same period last year with only 398.
Of the 42 towns and the component city of Passi, the IPHO said only the municipality of Carles does not have an HFMD case.
The town of Santa Barbara has the highest number of HFMD cases with 363, an increase of 18,050 percent. Last year, the town only had two cases.
In second, the IPHO said, is Lambunao with 198 cases; Alimodian with 190; Calinog with 172, and Badiangan with 162.
The provincial government had earlier declared an outbreak of HFMD but noted that majority of the cases have already recovered.
IPHO is strengthening the awareness campaign on HFMD with local government units (LGUs).