Dengue fever cases fall by more than a fifth

Manila: Cases of dengue fever in the country this year are about 22.4 per cent lower compared to those recorded from January to September last year, the government has reported.

According to the Department of Health (DoH), cases of the potentially deadly tropical disease continued to decrease from last year.

Earlier, the government adopted mitigating measures, including widespread use of a device that prevents mosquitos carrying the dengue virus from multiplying.

The DoH said reported dengue cases across the country from January to September 24 this year showed a significant drop, with the count now being at 83,459 cases, which is 22.40 per cent lower compared to the same period last year.

Likewise, the number of deaths blamed on the disease dropped as a consequence with 467 deaths over the period this year, compared to last year's 668 deaths.

Peak months

The total number of cases in January to September last year had reached 107,550.

"July and August represent the peak months for dengue. Cases in July and August this year decreased by 41.9 per cent compared to last year," the DoH said in a statement. From July to August it is the peak of the wet season in the Philippines and a time when mosquitos proliferate because they have a significantly larger breeding ground.

Most of the dengue cases were recorded in the National Capital Region (18,085) Central Luzon (18,081), and the Southern Tagalog or the Cavite, Laguna, Batangas-Rizal region.

These three regions, along with Ilocos and Cagayan Valley are the only regions which registered higher numbers compared to last year. In the National Capital Region, most cases were from Quezon City (5,899), Manila (2,319), Calookan City (2,086), Valenzuela (1,197), and Pasig (1,002).

According to the DoH, the ages of affected individuals ranged from less than one month to 92 years old. The majority (53 per cent) of reported cases were male. Most (41 per cent) belonged to the 1-10 years age group.

"While we see that dengue cases are lower nationwide, Metro Manila and Central Luzon have been hit hardest by the disease" said Secretary Enrique Ona. "We need to double our control efforts in the region especially after the floods from the recent typhoons."

The dengue virus is carried by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, an insect that is more active during the day.

The insect is the main carrier of the virus that causes dengue fever. Some symptoms include high fever lasting two to seven days, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

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