By Carolyn Bonquin, CNN Philippines

Published Aug 25, 2022 2:18:25 PM

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 25) — The Philippines continues to see a rise in mosquito-borne diseases in 2022, as it reports more dengue and chikungunya cases.

Based on the Department of Health’s (DOH) data as of Aug. 6, the number of dengue cases nationwide has reached 118,526, or 153% higher compared to the same period last year.

The DOH also reported eight additional deaths due to dengue from July 31 to Aug. 6, bringing the total number of casualties to 399. This is higher than the 167 deaths reported during the same period in 2021.

The National Capital Region recorded nearly a third of the new dengue cases in the first week of August with 1,007, bringing its total to 10,937 for the year. Central Luzon (21,242) and Central Visayas (11,363) have the most number of dengue cases nationwide.

Of all the regions, Cagayan Valley saw the highest increase with 8,132 dengue infections as of August, or 62,361% more than the 371 cases it recorded last year.

Amid the rising dengue cases, Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines president Dr. Jose Rene de Grano has called for more efforts to destroy mosquito breeding sites.

“Ibig sabihin ang breeding places ng mosquitoes ay nagpapatuloy. Ang pinakaimportante sa dengue, malinis ang paligid nang sa ganun po maalis ang pinamumugaran ng mga lamok na nagdadala ng dengue,” De Grano said in a public briefing.

[Translation: This means there are still breeding places for mosquitoes. The most important thing against dengue is to have clean surroundings to remove breeding places of mosquitoes that cause dengue.]

Aside from dengue, the country has also logged 374 chikungunya infections as of Aug. 6. The number is 475% higher than the 65 cases reported last year.

Two additional cases were reported in the July 31 to Aug. 6 period.

Most of the chikungunya cases are from Calabarzon (103), Central Visayas (75), Davao Region (67), Western Visayas (53), Central Luzon (26), and Ilocos Region (20).

Only Eastern Visayas and the Zamboanga Peninsula have not reported chikungunya infections.

One person died from chikungunya this year.

Like dengue, the chikungunya virus is transmitted by mosquitoes. Symptoms include fever, joint pain, headache, muscle pain and rashes.

SOURCE: https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2022/8/25/PH-dengue-chikungunya-cases-up-in-2022.html