Philippines records 51,622 dengue cases from January-June 2022

The Philippines has recorded 51,622 cases of dengue from January 1 to June 18, the Department of Health said Monday.

According to the DOH, this is 58% higher compared to cases reported during the same period last year at 32,610.

The DOH said Central Luzon, Central Visayas, and the Zamboanga Peninsula reported the most number of cases at 13%, 12%, and 9%, respectively.

Meanwhile, around 13,075 cases were recorded from May 8 to June 18, most of which were from Central Luzon, Central Visayas, and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

The agency said Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, the Zamboanga Peninsula, the Davao Region, the Bangsamoro Region, and CAR showed an increase in cases in the recent week.

The DOH said 15 out of 17 regions have exceeded their epidemic threshold in the past four weeks.

Meanwhile, the country has reported 239 fatalities due to dengue. Of this, 40 occurred in January, 37 in February, 34 in March, 47 in April, 62 in May, and 19 in June.

The DOH reminded the public to implement the 4S strategies such as to search and destroy breeding places, secure self-protection, seek early consultation, and support fogging/spraying in hotspot areas.

Alarming

Earlier in the day, former Philippine Medical Association president Benito Atienza said the number of dengue cases in the Philippines has become alarming.

“Yes, dapat tayo ma-alarma (we should be alarmed),” Atienza said at the Laging Handa briefing.

Atienza said more people have died of dengue than COVID-19 in Singapore.

“Kaya dapat po tayong mag-ingat ngayon… dapat po tayong mabahala kung ating mga anak o kahit po matanda, kahit nurse, kahit sino po, ay pwedeng mag dengue sa panahon ngayon,” he said.

(That’s why we should be careful right now. We should be alarmed because even senior citizens, nurses, and anyone can get dengue.)

— RSJ, GMA News