Philippines declares national dengue epidemic

Philippines declared an epidemic after 146,062 cases were recorded from January to July 20 this year

MANILA: The Department of Health (DOH) of the Philippines declared a National Dengue Epidemic after 146,062 cases were recorded from January to July 20 this year, state media reported.

The announcement was made by health secretary Francisco Duque III on Tuesday.

In a press briefing at the NDRRMC, Duque said the reported cases are 98 percent higher compared to the same period in 2018.

There were also 622 dengue deaths recorded this year, according to state media.

“It is important that a National Epidemic be declared to identify if a localised response is needed, and to enable the local government units to use their Quick Response Fund to address the epidemic situation,” Duque said.

The announcement was made after a full council meeting at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, as NDRRMC chair, issued a memorandum to all disaster response units across the country for the strict implementation of the national dengue epidemic declaration.

Based on the DOH Dengue Surveillance Report, Region 6 (Western Visayas) has the highest number of cases at 23,330 followed by Region 4-A (Calabarzon) with 16,515; Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula) with 12,317; Region 10 (Northern Mindanao) with 11,455 and Region 12 (Soccsksargen) with 11,083.

Meanwhile, seven out of the 17 regions have exceeded the epidemic threshold of dengue for the past three consecutive weeks.

The regions were Calabarzon with 16,515; Mimaropa with 4,254; Region 5 (Bicol) with 3,470; Western Visayas with 23,330; Region 8 (Eastern Visayas) with 7,199; Zamboanga Peninsula with 12,317; and Northern Mindanao with 11,455 cases.

Other regions exceeded the alert threshold level like Region 1 (Ilocos) with 4,396 cases; Region 7 (Central Visayas) with 10,728; and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao with 2,301.

Duque said the total number of cases nationwide for the 29th Morbidity Week alone (July 14 to 20) is at 10,502, or 71 percent higher compared to the same period in 2018.

With the National Dengue Epidemic declaration, the DOH, together with other government agencies, local government units (LGUs), schools, offices, and communities will be conducting a campaign to destroy breeding sites of the disease carrying mosquitoes.