DOH: Dengue cases in RP up 35% in first four months of '08

MANILA, Philippines - Cases of dengue in the country during the first four months of the year increased by more than 35 percent as compared to last year, the Department of Health (DoH) reported. Surveillance conducted by the National Epidemiology Center (NEC), an attached agency of DoH indicated that from January 1 to May 3, dengue cases hit 10,841 - 35.6 percent higher than the 7,992 cases recorded during the same period last year. Deaths due to dengue also climbed to 114, up by 24 deaths as against the 90 casualties registered during the same period last year. Based on the report, most of the dengue victims are from the National Capital Region (NCR) with 2,839 cases tallied. Of the 2,839 cases posted in NCR, the Manila had the most number of dengue cases with 790 followed by Caloocan City with 431 cases and Quezon City with 418. Aside from NCR, the regions of Central Luzon (1,580), Central Visayas (1,384), Calabarzon (937) and Zamboanga (803) also recorded high number of dengue cases. To recall, Health Sec. Francisco Duque III already imposed a year-long program to combat dengue. Duque stressed that conducting a “search and destroy" operation is inexpensive and will only require the demolition of all possible mosquito breeding grounds. - GMANews.TV