Dengue cases in 2020 nearly 50 percent lower than same time last year – DOH

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) saw a nearly 50-percent decrease in dengue cases this year as compared to the same period last year.

In an online press briefing on Monday, DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the surveillance report of the department’s epidemiology bureau showed that the number of dengue cases was 46 percent lower than the same time in 2019.

“Patuloy po ang ating pagpupursige hindi lamang para respondehan ang mga COVID-19 patients kung hindi pati na rin po ang iba pang may sakit, kagaya na lamang po ng dengue. Recently…nakapag-observe tayo ng mas mababang bilang ng mga kasong dengue kumpara sa parehong panahon nung nakaraang taon,”  Vergeire said.

(We continue to not only respond to COVID-19 patients but to patients of other diseases as well, such as dengue. Recently…we have observed a lower number of cases this year compared to the same time last year).

“Ayon po sa surveillance report ng ating epidemiology bureau, ang kabuuang bilang nga mga kaso ng dengue ngayong taon ay 46 percent lower than the same time last year,” she added.

(According to the surveillance report of our epidemiology bureau, the total number of dengue cases is 46 percent lower than the same period last year).

According to Vergeire, the decrease in the number of cases may have been due to the increased awareness of the public amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“Kaya upang mapanatili po itong lowering of cases, napaka halaga po talaga na hindi po tayo tumigil sa pag-obsreve ng preventive protocols,” she added.

(That’s why it is important to continue with observing preventive protocols to ensure the lowering of dengue cases).

“Kahit nakikipaglaban po tayo sa COVID-19, wag po nating kakalimutan na meron pa ho tayong ibang mga sakit na nagiging karaniwan kapag naguumpisa na po ang tag-ulan…Ating alalahanin na ang dengue ay isa sa mga sakit na na nilalabanan natin nang ilang dekada na at ito po ay nakakamatay,” the DOH official said.

(Even if we are battling COVID-19, we should not forget that we have to address other diseases as well that usually spread during the rainy season…And we should remember that we have been fighting this disease for decades…this is a fatal disease).