Rise in dengue cases ‘alarming’ as infections breach 51,000 mark

FILE PHOTO Dengue cases are on the rise.

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) has called “alarming” the rising number of dengue cases in the country as total cases breached the 51,000 mark in just the first half of the year.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Friday said that from January to June this year, a total of 51,622 dengue cases have been recorded in the country.

This is higher than the 32,610 dengue cases recorded during the first half of last year, said Vergeire.

“Unang-una, alarming in terms of pagdami, ano. So kailangan talaga na mag-ingat and i-monitor nang husto dahil nakikita natin ang patuloy na pagtaas,” Vergeire said during the Laging Handa briefing.

(Firstly, it is alarming in terms of the increase. So we really need to be careful and monitor because we can see the continued increase in cases.)

“Kaya po siya nakakaalarma na sinasabi natin dahil naapektuhan niya po ‘yung ating mga kabataan at nagkakaroon tayo ng admission sa mga ospital at ayaw po nating mangyari ‘yan,” she added.

(It is alarming because it is now affecting our children; we are getting hospital admissions and don’t want that to happen.)

Vergeire said Region 3, Region 7, and Region 9 recorded the highest number of dengue cases so far.

She further said an increase in dengue cases was likewise recorded in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Region 6, Region 4-B, Region 2, and the National Capital Region, among others.

Vergeire explained that dengue is endemic, which means it happens year-long. However, a higher number of cases are recorded during the rainy season, she said.

“Sana laging takpan ang mga tubig (Let us cover our stored water). Let us search and destroy all these breeding sites [of mosquitoes causing dengue],” Vergeire said.

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EDV/abc