By Brian Campued
The Department of Health (DOH) has recorded a total of 269,467 dengue cases from Jan. 1 to Oct. 4, 2024—82% higher than the same period last year.
In a press release on Oct. 11, the DOH said it logged 147,678 cases from Jan. 1 to Oct. 4, 2023.
Among the current number of cases, around 702 deaths have been reported, and about 2,856 or 1.06% contracted severe dengue.
The case fatality rate (CFR) for this year is 0.26%, lower than the 0.37% CFR during the same period last year.
Meanwhile, all regions showed a decline in new cases over the last four weeks except Metro Manila.
According to the DOH, there was a 20% drop in cases from Sept. 1–14 with 25,986 cases, compared to the 32,649 cases reported from Aug. 18–31.
Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa urged the public to continue following the 4S strategy: search and destroy mosquito breeding grounds; self-protection measures; seek early consultation when experiencing symptoms; and support fogging or spraying in local hotspot areas where dengue cases are on the rise.
“The DOH urges the public to stay alert and continue efforts to protect themselves and communities. We encourage everyone to practice preventive measures and seek medical attention at the first sign of dengue symptoms,” Herbosa said. —av
