DOH: Dengue cases, deaths down so far in 2021

The number of dengue cases and deaths across the Philippines continued to decline four months into 2021, the Department of Health (DOH) said Thursday.

Dr. Ailene Espiritu of the DOH Disease Prevention and Control Bureau said 21,478 cases and 80 deaths linked to dengue were reported from January 1 to April 17 this year.

These figures were more than 50% lower than the 49,135 cases and 179 deaths recorded over the same period in 2020.

A total of 83,335 dengue infections and 324 deaths were logged last year, 81% lower than the 437,563 cases and 1,689 fatalities in 2019 when a national dengue epidemic was declared. 

“We remain hopeful that the decrease in cases will continue and of course this must be partnered with an integrated vector control management and other prevention activities,” Espiritu said in an online forum.

She attributed the decline in cases to the “4S” strategy or "search and destroy mosquito breeding sites, self-protection, seek early consultation, and support fogging or spraying only in hotspot areas."

Espiritu also noted that lockdowns and enhanced water hygiene due to COVID-19 contributed to the drop in dengue infections.

However, she acknowledged that the rainy season was only declared this month. 

“Wala tayong masyadong ulan no’ng January to April so baka kaya wala pa po tayong kaso. Ngayon po na paparating na po ang tag-ulan, kailangan bantayan na natin ang ating kapaligiran para hindi po dumami ang ating mga lamok,” Espiritu said.

(We didn’t have much rain from January to April so maybe that’s why we didn’t have as many cases. Now that the rainy season is here, we need to monitor our surroundings to combat mosquitoes.) —LBG, GMA News