THE Department of Health (DOH) has logged a total of 150,354 dengue cases nationwide from Jan. 1 to Aug. 10, around 39 percent higher than the tally for the same period last year.
In a statement Wednesday, the DOH said 396 deaths have been reported from Jan. 1 to Aug. 10 nationwide, which is lower than the 421 deaths out of the 107,953 cases recorded during the same period in 2023.
“A 24-percent increase in dengue cases was observed, from 18,784 cases during June 30 to July 13, 2024, to 23,290 cases during July 14 to July 27, 2024,” the DOH said.
“While there was a lower number of cases logged from July 28 to August 10, 2024 at 13,369, DOH epidemiologists caution that there may be late consultations and reports.”
All regions except Soccsksargen, Zamboanga Peninsula, and Bicol showed an increase in cases in the recent three to four weeks counting back from Aug. 10.
The DOH said dengue has a seasonal pattern with the case counts expected to rise during the rainy months.
It advised the public to search and destroy mosquito breeding grounds –anything with stagnant water.
The declaration of local disease outbreaks must come from provincial, city, or municipal authorities as stated in Section 7 of Republic Act No. 11332, it said. (PNA)
