Philippines' dengue cases from January to mid-July 106% more than same period in 2021

The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday said 82,597 dengue cases have been recorded in the country since January.

At a press briefing, DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said the total number of cases from January 1 to July 16 was 106% higher compared to the reported cases in the same period last year, with 40,096.

Vergeire said most dengue cases were reported from Region III, with 13,449 cases, followed by Region VII with 8,905 cases and the National Capital Region with 6,884 cases.

She said 10 out of 17 regions exceeded the epidemic threshold in the past four weeks, with Cagayan Valley, Mimaropa, and the Cordillera Administrative Region showing an increasing trend from June 19 to July 16.

"Nationally, we have already recorded 319 deaths with a case fatality rate of 0.4% due to dengue," Vergeire said.

The DOH called on the public to adhere to and exercise the 4S strategy: search and destroy breeding places; secure self-protection; seek early medical consultation; and support fogging or spraying in hotspot areas.

"The DOH also ensures that our hospitals and clinics provide their patients with dengue fast lanes at their emergency areas for prompt diagnosis and management of cases," it said in a separate statement.

"Hospitals and clinics may use rapid diagnostic tests for NS1 to aid in screening. Report all cases to the local epidemiology and surveillance unit (LESU)," it added. —VBL/NB, GMA News