TINY BUT DEADLY A tweezer holds a mosquito at the Pasteur Institute in the southern Vietnamese city of Nha Trang where research is underway to find a natural method to stop the tiny but deadly insect from spreading the virus, which has caused a surge in dengue cases in Southeast Asia. AFP (File photo)
MANILA, Philippines — Dengue cases in the country continue to increase, with the Department of Health (DOH) reporting Monday that 92,343 people contracted the illness as of July 23.
The DOH said the latest figure reflects a 118 percent growth from the 42,294 cases logged during the same period last year.
In a message to reporters, the DOH said it had recorded the most dengue cases in Central Luzon (15,951 or 17 percent of the total). The region is followed by Central Visayas (9,429 or 10 percent) and Metro Manila (7,962 or 9 percent).
It also said that in the latest four-week period, or from June 26 to July 23, some 21,566 dengue cases were recorded, with Central Luzon still leading at 5,186 cases, Metro Manila at 2,374, and Calabarzon at 2,178.
Further, the DOH said nine regions have likewise exceeded the endemic threshold for dengue during the last four weeks. The health agency did not specify all nine regions but noted that Mimaropa and Metro Manila presented a sustained increasing trend.
The DOH reported 344 deaths due to dengue as of July 23. In January, 36 died, followed by 31 in February, 39 in March, 46 in April, 63 in May, 73 in June, and 56 in July.
RELATED STORIES
Rise in dengue cases ‘alarming’ as infections breach 51,000 mark
Spike in dengue cases triggers alerts