As cyclones threaten to enhance monsoon rain on parts of the country at this time of year, the Department of Health (DOH) warned the public not to become complacent against dengue. Health Secretary Enrique Ona said that while dengue cases are down from January to July 23 this year compared to the same period last year, there is no reason to relax. "We have succeeded in bringing down the cases of dengue and but we must avoid complacency. Instead, our gains should encourage us to keep up the good work in combating dengue," Ona said in a news release posted on the government portal. The DOH’s figures showed that from January to July 23, there were 38,876 dengue cases, 25.85 percent lower compared to the 52,428 cases in the same period last year. It also noted dengue outbreaks in the province of Batanes and Aurora are now contained. Also, it said the death toll, which has so far reached 226, was half of the reported deaths in the same period last year. "As the rainy season continues, we need to continue organizing clean-up campaigns in barangays to destroy every possible dengue breeding site," Ona said. Ona said most cases so far this year came from:
Metro Manila (9,229) Central Luzon (6,365) CALABARZON (5,649) Ilocos (3,432) Cagayan Valley (2,737) In Metro Manila, Quezon City (2,574) and Manila (1,040) had the most number of cases followed by Caloocan (1,104), Pasig (804), and Valenzuela (664). Ages of cases ranged from less than a month to 92 years old. Some 54 percent of the cases were male. Most of the cases belonged to the 1-10 years age group. Most of the deaths were also in the 1-10 years age group. Ona also noted clustering of cases in some barangays in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Cagayan, isabela, Quirino, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac, Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Quezon, Rizal, Palawan, Albay, Camarines Sur, Iloilo, Negros occidental, Cebu, Misamis Occidental, and Misamis Oriental. The same is true in Davao City, Davao Oriental, Cotabato City, General Santos City, Sarangani, South Cotabato, Abra, Baguio, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountan Province, Surigao del Norte, and Metro Manila. Clustering of cases is considered when there are three or more cases in a barangay for the past four consecutive weeks. Hot spots were likewise observed in some areas in Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan, Benguet, and Metro Manila. An area is considered a hotspot when there are clustering of cases with increasing number in two consecutive weeks. Dengue outbreaks were also detected in Basco, Mahatao, Sabtang, Taal, Uyugan, and Itbayat in Batanes and Dingalan in Aurora. However, health authorities confirmed that these outbreaks were already contained. Symptoms The same government statement defined dengue as a disease caused by the bite of Aedes aegypti mosquito. These mosquitoes bite during daytime. The disease is characterized by headache, fever, muscle and joint pains and skin rashes. In extreme cases, bleeding of the gums and nose may occur, the statement added. — RSJ, GMA News 
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