Only 1 town in Iloilo remains free from hand, foot, mouth disease

There is only one town in the province of Iloilo that remains free from hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) this year.

Records from the Provincial Health Office (PHO) showed that Dumangas is the lone area that has not been affected by the highly contagious disease.

From January 1 to June 28, 2025, PHO logged 834 HFMD cases, higher by 174 percent compared to the number recorded in the same period a year ago.

The town of Carles accounted for the highest cases in the province at 74, followed by Barotac Nuevo (57), Concepcion (54), Lambunao (41) and Balasan, Passi City, Santa Barbara  (37 each).

HFMD is transmitted through contact with nose and throat discharges and saliva of infected persons and contaminated objects.

Among its symptoms are fever, sore throat, malaise, blister-like lesions on the tongue, gums, and the inside of the cheeks, irritability in infants and toddlers, and loss of appetite.IMT