DOH warns vs complacency as dengue cases drop

Even though dengue cases in the past six months have gone down by 25 percent compared to the same period last year, the Department of Health on Thursday warned the public against becoming complacent.

Out of the 38,876 dengue cases reported since January, there have been 226 deaths recorded nationwide. Compared to last year’s figures, however, the number of fatalities was down by 50 percent.

“As the rainy season continues, we need to continue organizing cleanup campaigns in barangays to destroy every possible dengue breeding site,” Health Secretary Enrique Ona said in a statement.

In particular, residents in Metro Manila should take the lead in the fight against dengue as it recorded the highest number of patients from January to June with 9,229 cases.

In second place was Central Luzon with 6,365 reported cases followed by the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) area with 5,649 cases; Ilocos Region, 3,432 cases; and Cagayan Valley, 2,737 cases.

In Metro Manila, Quezon City posted the highest number of dengue cases at 2,574; followed by Caloocan City with 1,104 cases; Manila with 1,040 cases; Pasig City, 804 cases; and Valenzuela City, 664.

“We have succeeded in bringing down the cases of dengue and but we must avoid complacency. Instead, our gains should encourage us to keep up the good work in combating dengue,” Ona said.