Dengue cases breach 23,000 in July
FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Most of the dengue infections recorded last month ended up in hospitals as cases of the viral infection in nine regions continued to climb, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
A total of 23,414 dengue cases were reported from July 3 to July 30, Maria Rosario Vergeire, officer in charge of the DOH, said on Friday.
Of the number, 18,208 or about 78 percent were hospitalized.
Nine out of 17 regions crossed the epidemic threshold for dengue last month, namely Metro Manila, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, and the Cordilleras.
The DOH and vaccine experts have started last month its review of dengue vaccines approved for use under the “emergency medicines” list of the World Health Organization in a bid to address rising infections in the country.
—KATHLEEN DE VILLA
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