2 CASES OF MALARIA RECORDED IN ILOILO

ILOILO CITY: The Department of Health Region 6 (DoH6) has recorded two “imported” cases of malaria involving overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

DOH-6 said the two reported cases involve male OFWs who previously traveled to Africa where the disease is endemic.

Dr. Bea Natalaray, a medical officer at the Infectious Disease Section of DoH-6, said the cases were confirmed through laboratory tests.

One case involves a seafarer who recently traveled to East Africa.

The Iloilo City Health Office said that the patient spent time in East Africa as their ship diverted en route to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from Nov. 16 to Dec. 26, 2023.

He arrived in the Philippines on January 3 and began experiencing symptoms of malaria on January 8, including fever, chills, skin discoloration, and difficulty urinating.

The patient did not seek medical attention until he arrived in Iloilo on February 2, when he tested and was confirmed positive for malaria.

Meanwhile, the other patient had fever and promptly consulted a doctor.

The DoH-6 said the patients are classified as outpatients but they remain under a 28-day monitoring period.

Despite the two cases recorded in Iloilo, Natalaray reiterated that the region is still regarded as malariafree due to the absence of local or indigenous cases.

“The bottom line is to sustain our status as a malaria-free province or region,” she said.

Natalaray said that DoH-6 has heightened its surveillance of returning OFWs from malariaendemic countries and urged them to promptly visit a doctor and disclose their travel history if they exhibit symptoms such as headaches and fever.

“We intensify our surveillance, especially for OFWs from countries endemic with malaria.

If they have fever, we immediately suspect malaria and take blood samples,” she said.

Natalaray said the imported malaria cases in the region are not uncommon, with reported cases in 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020.