MANILA, Philippines—The number of dengue cases dropped by more than 13 percent nationwide during the first six months of the year but increased sharply in Metro Manila which registered 8,909 patients, or 178 percent more than a year ago, the health department said Friday.
At a press conference, Health Secretary Enrique Ona also raised the alarm on the growing incidence of leptospirosis, particularly in Western Visayas, Bicol, Central Luzon, and the National Capital Region.
Ona said that from January to July 9 this year, there were 34,090 dengue cases nationwide compared to 39,556 during the same period last year. The number of cases thus far this year was lower by 13.8 percent.
There were 198 reported deaths.
Some 54 percent of persons reported with dengue were male and most of them were in the 1-10 years age bracket.
“This is a significant and considerable decrease. But it is too early to claim victory because we are just in the time of the year when the number of dengue cases is highest and usually occur,” he said.
He pointed out that Metro Manila posted the largest number of cases this year with 8,909 patients, out of whom 57 died, accounting for 26.13 percent of the total number of cases. Among the cities in the national capital region, Quezon City posted the highest number of dengue cases at 2,433 with 20 reported deaths. Caloocan City and Manila respectively had 1,049 and 977 cases with eight people dying from the hemorrhagic fever in the two cities.
Ona attributed the increase in the number of dengue cases in Metro Manila to the large population density.
Regions III (Central Luzon) and IV-A (Calabarzon), posted high incidence of dengue. Central Luzon posted 5,731 cases compared to last year’s 1,193 cases, a 380 percent increase. The Calabarzon (Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Romblon-Quezon) region had 5,013 cases against 2010’s figure of 3,666.
Clustering (three or more cases in a barangay in the past four weeks) of cases was noted in 34 provinces, including Metro Manila, while areas in Ilocos Sur, Isabela, Davao City and South Cotabato were declared dengue hot spots. Hot spots are declared when there is a clustering of cases increasing in number in two consecutive weeks.
Dengue outbreaks were detected in Batanes, based on the steady increase of cases in the municipalities of Basco, Mahatao, Sabtang, Taal, and Uyugan, and Aurora Province where a large number of dengue cases was reported in Barangays Aplaya and Paltic in Dingalan town .
“It is very important at this time of the year not to lower our guard. I would advise communities to continue clean-up programs with the local government units, the Department of Education and the Department of the Interior and Local Government,” he said.
Meanwhile, 613 cases of leptospirosis were reported from January to July 9 this year, which is 73.2 percent higher than the 354 cases during the same period last year. There were 48 reported deaths.
Region VI (Western Visayas) accounted for 30.83 percent of the total, posting 189 cases. The Bicol Region (Region V) had 66 cases while Region III (Central Luzon) had 62 cases. The National Capital Region had 55 leptospirosis cases.
Majority of the cases reported were male, accounting for 88.1 percent of the total number, while approximately 39 percent belonged to the 25-39 age group.
The report stated, “Leptospirosis has low case fatality rate however it increases with advancing age and may reach 20 percent or more in patients with jaundice and kidney damage who have not been treated with renal dialysis.”
Ona said that efforts must be made to avoid contact with rat feces and urine because the treatment of serious cases is more expensive, entailing dialysis.