Dengue won’t go away

MANILA, Philippines—Even as the country sizzles in the summer heat, the public must still watch out for dengue-carrying mosquitoes which now seem to thrive all-year round, health officials warned on Friday.

Only four months into 2011, the Department of Health has already monitored 18,885 dengue cases nationwide, 5.24 percent higher compared to the figure for the same period last year, noted health officials.

Recorded deaths

At least 115 deaths have so far been recorded from January 1 to April 9.

“This is a slight but worrying increase in dengue cases,” Health Secretary Enrique Ona told a press briefing Friday.

The DOH has observed dengue clusters and hotspots, where three or more dengue cases have occurred in the past four consecutive weeks, in several barangays in Pangasinan, La Union, Bataan, Pampanga, Rizal, Cavite, Laguna, Negros Occidental, Cebu, Zamboanga del Sur, Misamis Oriental, Davao City, General Santos City, South Cotabato and Metro Manila.