MANILA, August 22 ------ The Department of Health reported a 39 percent rise in dengue cases across the country, noting, however, that slightly fewer deaths were recorded. The DOH earlier said dengue cases in the Philippines have reached outbreak levels. From January 1 to August 10, the DOH logged a total of 150,354 dengue cases nationwide.
The number, the agency said, is 39 percent higher compared to the 107,953 dengue cases reported during the same period last year. Meanwhile, the DOH said 396 dengue-related deaths were reported nationwide from January 1 to August 10, 2024 — lower than the 421 deaths recorded during the same period in 2023.
The health agency said the "higher case detection with lower case fatality for dengue" could indicate "better health-seeking behavior" among Filipinos, such as early consultation that leads to early diagnosis and better management. "Dengue has a seasonal pattern. Case counts are expected to rise during the rainy months," Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said in a statement.
More recently, the DOH noted a 24-percent increase in dengue cases during the June 30 to July 27 period. The number of cases rose from 18,784 between June 30 and July 13, 2024, to 23,290 between July 14 and July 27, 2024. "While there was a lower number of cases logged from July 28 to August 10, 2024, DOH epidemiologists caution that there may be late consultations and reports," the DOH said. "All regions except SOCCSKARGEN, Zamboanga Peninsula, and Bicol showed an increase in cases in the recent 3-4 weeks counting back from August 10, 2024," it added.
As the cases rise, the DOH urged the public and local officials to adopt anti-dengue measures such as the following:
• Search and destroy mosquito breeding sites such as stagnant water
• Secure self-protection by wearing light-colored clothing
• Apply insect repellents when able
• Seek early consultation if symptoms of dengue appear
• Spray and fog hotspot areas for 2 consecutive weeks to prevent outbreaks
The head of the DOST Vaccine Development Expert Panel urged government to consider the approval of new generation dengue vaccines to address the rising cases of dengue in the Philippines. “May mga bagong vaccine sa dengue na siguro ay dapat nating tignan. Actually as far as I know ay meron nang application so ito ay second generation na ng vaccine ng dengue na mas mataas ang proteksyon laban doon sa apat na types ng dengue, at maganda ang safety profile nya,” Dr. Nina Gloriani said. “Actually meron nang rekomendasyon ang WHO na gamitin ito kaya lang hindi pa umaandar sa atin ang pag-approve nito. Sana maapprove din para makita para magamit na natin,” she said in a televised interview.
The World Health Organization last May announced that it prequalified the TAK-003 dengue vaccine by drug manufacturer Takeda, “a live-attenuated vaccine containing weakened versions of the four serotypes of the virus that cause dengue.”. The WHO said it “recommends the use of TAK-003 in children aged 6–16 years in settings with high dengue burden and transmission intensity.”
Prior to this, the WHO prequalified the CYD-TDV vaccine against dengue developed by Sanofi Pasteur. “We call on the appropriate authorities na sana tignang mabuti ano ba ang merits nito, kasi bagong generation ito ng bakuna kung meron tayong experience, before ay ibang iba na ang bakunang ito,” Gloriani said. The Department of Health in 2017 suspended its dengue vaccination program after studies showed that the vaccine Dengvaxia by Sanofi Pasteur posed risks to those without prior infection of dengue.
Source: news.abs-cbn.com
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