MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday declared a national dengue alert amid a spike in reported cases of the viral illness caused by female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in several regions. DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III said from January 1 to June 29, 2019, 106,630 dengue cases have been reported nationwide, an 85 percent increase from the 57,564 cases reported over the same period last year. Duque clarified there is no national epidemic as the cases of dengue are localized. “We don’t have a national epidemic. Western Visayas had the most number of reported dengue cases so far this year with 13,164, followed by Calabarzon (11,474 cases), Central Visayas (9,199 cases), Soccsksargen (9,107 cases) and Northern Mindanao (8,739 cases).

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer July 15, 2019 04:52 UTC