The Department of Health on Wednesday reported that the number of dengue cases across the country has soared to more than 360,000.
Based on the latest report of the DoH-Epidemiology Bureau, there were 360,646 dengue cases reported from Jan. 1 to Oct. 12, including 1,373 deaths.
The figure was higher compared to the 172,416 dengue cases, including 887 deaths, reported during the same period last year.
Region 4-A or the Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon area has the highest number of dengue cases with 60,614; followed by Western Visayas with 53,704; National Capital Region with 30,205; Central Luzon with 29,208; and Northern Mindanao with 23,849.
The Health department noted that children aged five- to nine-years-old were the most affected age group with 81,633 cases.
The DoH added that dengue cases “exceeded the epidemic threshold” in Calabarzon, Bicol region, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, NCR, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
On the other hand, the DoH said that in the Ilocos region, Central Luzon, and Northern Mindanao, the incidence of dengue has “exceeded the alert level threshold.” (Analou de Vera)