Two WV provinces lack such designation: Antique, Negros Occidental

Department of Health-Region VI (DOH-6) Entomologist III Maria Lourdes M. Monegro said, after expressing desires to be declared “malaria-free,” Antique is ready for validation.

A DOH validation team is scheduled to arrive in the province towards the end of this month.

She noted, Antique and Negros Occidental are the only provinces of the Western Visayas yet to be declared “malaria-free.”

Monegro explained, one of the proponents for a region to be declared “malaria-free” includes having no reported indigenous cases within the past five years. Indigenous cases refer to malaria patients without a history of traveling to endemic areas.

According to reports, Antique’s last indigenous case was recorded in 2008.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes malaria as “a mosquito-borne disease caused by a parasite.” They note, patients often experience fever, chills, and flu-like symptoms.

Monegro pointed out, if left untreated, the disease “could result to severe malaria and eventually to death.”/WDJ