The Department of Health (DOH) said the Philippines has logged 118,526 dengue cases from January 1 to August 6 this year, 153 percent higher than the figure in the same period in 2021,
DOH officer in charge Maria Rosario Vergeire noted noted in a media forum that cases for the same period last year totaled 46,761. “But in the recent four weeks, 29,586 dengue cases were reported, of which, 64% were hospitalized. And this is lower than those hospitalized in the past four weeks,” she said.
DOH records show a total of 399 deaths due to dengue were reported nationwide — 35 in January; 31 in February; 37 in March; 47 in April; 62 in May; 74 in June; 100 in July; and 13 in August.
Most of the dengue cases were reported in Central Luzon with 21,242 (18%); Central Visayas, 11,363 (10%); and the National Capital Region (NCR), 10,937 (9%).
From July 10 to August 6, about 29,586 cases were recorded. Of the tally, 6,035 or 20% were from Central Luzon; 4,045 or 14% from NCR; and 2,964 or 10% from Western Visayas.
About 10 out of 17 regions have exceeded the epidemic threshold in the past four weeks — Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Region 4-A (Calabarzon), Region 4-B (Mimaropa), Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Cordillera region, and NCR from July 10 to August 6.
Vergeire noted that the number of recent hospitalizations was lower than the more than 70% logged previously as people already seek early consultation because of the efforts of the local governments.
“We remind our fellowmen that we could avoid hospitalization and complication due to dengue through early consultation,” she said.
