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MANILA, Philippines — The latest tally of dengue cases in the country is 153 percent higher compared to the same period in 2021, according to Department of Health (DOH) data released on Friday.
There were 118,526 dengue cases reported from January 1 to August 6, 2022 compared to 46,761 cases in the same period last year.
This year, most dengue cases are from Central Luzon, which logged 21,242 or 18 percent of cases; Central Visayas, 11,363 cases (10 percent); and Metro Manila, 10,937 cases (nine percent).
There were also 399 deaths reported, accounting for 0.3 percent of all cases.
These deaths were reported in: January, 35; February, 31; March, 37; April, 47; May, 62; June, 74; July, 100; and August, 13.
Bites of infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes spread dengue viruses to people.
The infection triggers a severe flu-like illness often followed by a sharp drop in an infected person’s platelet count.
Due to the spike in the mosquito-borne tropical disease, medical experts are now renewing the call to consider the usage of dengvaxia vaccines again.
READ: Gov’t should review Dengvaxia vaccine amid rising dengue cases — expert
Dengue vaccines are unavailable in the Philippines since the FDA has permanently revoked Sanofi Pasteur’s certificate of product registration for Dengvaxia.
After the vaccine was linked to the deaths of several infants and toddlers who had received the injection, it became a touchy subject.