DOH reports 58% rise in dengue cases; death toll at 239

Mosquito. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday said it recorded a total of 51,622 cases of dengue from January 1 to June 18, as well as the death of 239 due to the mosquito-borne viral infection.

“Cumulatively, cases this year are 58% higher compared to the reported cases during the same period in 2021 (32,610),” the DOH said in a statement.

Most dengue cases, according to the DOH, were reported from the following regions:

• Central Luzon: 6,641 (13%)
• Central Visayas: 6,361 (12%)
• Zamboanga Peninsula: 4,767 (9%)
• Meanwhile, 13,075 cases were recorded in the most recent four-week span or from May 8 to June 18.
• The region with the highest number of cases during this time span were:
• Central Luzon: 1,826 (14%)
• Central Visayas: 1,570 (12%)
• Cordillera Administrative Region: 1,175 (9%)

The DOH also said that Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Davao Region, BARMM, and CAR showed an increasing trend during the same period.

On the other hand, 15 of 17 regions (Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Soccsksargen, BARMM, CAR, NCR) already exceeded the epidemic threshold for the past four weeks.

The case fatality rate, meanwhile, was at 0.5 percent or 239 deaths: 40 occurred in January; 37 in February; 34 in March; 47 in April; 62 in May; and 19 in June.

The DOH urged the public to practice preventive and control actions or the “4S strategies”:

• Search and destroy breeding places
• Secure self-protection
• Seek early consultation, and
• Support fogging/spraying in hotspot areas

RELATED STORY

Spike in dengue cases triggers alerts

KGA