Philippines’ dengue cases now 131% higher this year with 102K

The Department of Health (DOH) has recorded a total of 102,619 dengue cases from January 1 to July 30, 2022, which is 131% higher than those recorded during the same period last year.

According to DOH’s National Dengue Data for the week, there were 44,361 cases logged from January 1 to July 30, 2021.

Cumulatively, most of the dengue cases this year or 18% were reported in Central Luzon with 18,664 cases, the DOH said.

It is followed by Central Visayas with 10,034 (10%) and the National Capital Region (NCR) with 8,870 (9%).

A total of 23,414 dengue cases were recorded from July 3 to July 30 alone, with Central Luzon also topping the list with 5,838 cases or 25%. 

This was followed by the NCR with 2,689 (11%) and Calabarzon with 2,369 (10%).

The DOH also said that nine out of 17 regions exceeded the epidemic threshold for dengue in the past four weeks. These regions were Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Cordillera Administrative Region, and NCR.

Meanwhile, Mimaropa and Western Visayas showed a “sustained increasing trend” of dengue cases over the same period.

The death toll due to dengue has now increased to 368, posing a 0.4% case fatality rate.

Of these deaths, 35 occurred in January, 31 in February, 38 in March, 46 in April, 64 in May, 74 in June, and 80 in July. — RSJ, GMA News