World | Philippines
Dengue deaths rise in Philippines as authorities deny outbreak
Health Secretary Dr Enrique Ona pointed out that the DOH remains on top of the situation and that the agency remains on guard with contingencies in the event that dengue haemorrhagic fever cases continue to increase with the continuing wet season.
- By Gilbert P. Felongco, Correspondent
- Published: 00:00 August 23, 2010
Manila: The Department of Health (DOH) on Sunday allayed fears of a major outbreak of the mosquito-borne dengue disease even as officials noted a worrying rise in the number of cases this year compared to last year.
Health Secretary Dr Enrique Ona pointed out that the DOH remains on top of the situation and that the agency remains on guard with contingencies in the event that dengue haemorrhagic fever cases continue to increase with the continuing wet season.
"Dengue cases in the country remain under control despite the noticeable increase in cases this year compared to 2009," he said.
Ona said that, overall, dengue cases had risen by 65.8 per cent from January to July this year compared to the same period in 2009.
The DOH had recorded a total 48,759 cases from January to July this year against 29,400 in the same period last year.
Dengue, Ona said, had caused the death of some 315 people so far and more are expected to be succumb to this deadly tropical disease as the wet season in the country continues until December. The mosquito-borne condition last year killed 387 people.
"This disease had to be taken on at the front line and this is the reason why we are coordinating with local government units at the municipal and the village levels to combat it," he said.
Most of the dengue cases were noted in Central Mindanao (5,259 cases), Western Visayas (4,511), Eastern Visayas (4,086), Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal zone (4,034), Southern Mindanao (3,875), Northern Mindanao (3,603), and the National Capital Region (3,452).
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