Dengue cases soar in Western Mindanao

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) in Western Mindanao has reported a rise in dengue fever cases in the region, with 18 children dead and more than 2,500 people treated due to complications caused by the disease since January.

From January to April 5, 2,456 dengue cases were recorded, a 132-percent increase compared to patients in the same period last year, said Neo Walter Folgo, DOH regional coordinator of the Aedes Vector Borne Disease Regional Program.

Folgo attributed the increase to the long dry spell, particularly in Zamboanga City and in Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga Sibugay provinces.

He said households had been storing water in containers that became the breeding places of mosquitoes, particularly the day-biting Aedes aegypti species that carry the dengue virus.

Based on DOH records, Zamboanga City registered the highest number of patients at 986 with eight deaths, followed by Zamboanga del Norte, 663 with six deaths, Zamboanga del Sur, 425 with two deaths, and Zamboanga Sibugay, 382 with two deaths.