Dengue, flu-like cases up

MANILA, Philippines — Three regions have reported an increase in dengue cases, the Department of Health (DOH) reported yesterday.

These are in Cagayan Valley, Bicol and Central Visayas, where upticks in cases were logged from Oct. 1 to Nov. 11.

The DOH said it recorded 179,444 dengue cases nationwide as of Nov. 11.

It said dengue cases dropped by 10.96 percent or from 12,169 to 10,835 in the past two weeks.

The DOH recorded 614 dengue deaths, a case fatality rate of 0.34 percent.

The department stressed the need to closely monitor the situation, saying cases may further increase due to late reports.

Meanwhile, cases of influenza-like illness increased by 49 percent or to more than 170,000 from January to Oct. 27 compared to the same period last year.

In its latest disease surveillance report, the DOH said it recorded 171,067 cases nationwide.

Davao recorded the highest number of cases with 25,137 followed by Northern Mindanao with 22,520 and Central Visayas, 21,398.

The biggest spike in cases was logged in Zamboanga peninsula, from 1,945 last year to 8,193 this year; Metro Manila from 5,042 to 10,000, and Central Visayas, from 10,862 to 21,398.

The most common symptoms of flu-like illness are fever, shivering, chills, dry cough, loss of appetite, body aches and nausea as well as sneezing

The public is advised to take the necessary precautionary measures to prevent further increase in cases.