Dengue cases plateau at 400,000 – DOH

MANILA, Philippines — The number of dengue cases recorded by the Department of Health (DOH) has reached more than 400,000 even as the epidemic of the mosquito-borne disease is almost over.

In its latest Dengue Surveillance Report, the DOH said there were 402,694 cases documented from Jan. 1 to Nov. 16.

This is 92 percent higher than the 209,335 cases recorded during the same period last year.

The death toll also soared from 1,075 last year to 1,502 this year.

But Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the trend of dengue cases has been going down and the epidemic is coming to an end.

He urged the public though to remain vigilant by continuing to eliminate all possible mosquito-breeding sites as he cautioned that the trend can easily be reversed when there are heavy rains.

Dengue is spread by the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito, which thrives in clean and stagnant water. It bites during daytime.

The report showed that Calabarzon had the most number of cases with 68,158; followed by Western Visayas with 57,212; National Capital Region with 36,790; and Central Luzon with 33,511.

Deaths caused by dengue were also highest in Western Visayas with 229; followed by Calabarzon with 206; National Capital Region with 175; and Central Visayas with 134.

In August, the DOH had declared a national dengue epidemic due to the soaring number of dengue cases. It was the first time it made the declaration.

The significant increase was primarily attributed to the so-called three-year cycle of dengue. This means that cases may soar on the third year, which in this case is 2019.

It was in 2016 when dengue cases also increased not only in the Philippines but in some parts of the world.