In its January to August 2 monitoring of 15 sentinel hospitals in the Cordillera, the Department of Health (DOH) reported a total of 498 cases for the period.
Baguio City has the highest number of cases with 313 or 63 percent. The four deaths were all from Baguio, the report added.
Clustering has also been noted in barangays Asin Road, Camp 7 and Irisan, which reported the occurrence of more than two cases, the previous month.
Most of those who acquired the disease are children aged zero to 17 years old.
The province of Benguet ranked second with the highest number of cases with 78 or 17 percent.
Abra has 28 or 5.62 percent while Mt. Province and Ifugao with 23 each or 4.62 percent.
Apayao has three or .60 percent and Kalinga with two or .40 percent.
Cases from Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Pampanga, La Union and Pangasinan were also referred to hospitals here.
With the occurrence of dengue even during months when it is not expected to occur, Dr. Amelita Pangilinan, head of the DOH Health Operations Division, said in a report last August 7, "The seasonality of the disease may no longer be applicable."
Pangilinan said epidemiological data suggest dengue cases have been increasing in all months of the year.
"This change is evident in the CAR (Cordillera Administrative Region) where the alert and epidemic thresholds were reached in the summer months. A general decrease in the number of cases, however, is being noted in the present rainy months."
Pangilinan said this trend should alert the public to be continually vigilant against the disease.
She said attention should be given to children because of a significant number of the cases belong to the pediatric age group.
The community should also be involved in the implementation of the 4Ss in dengue prevention she added.
The 4Ss refer to searching and destroying mosquito breeding sites, use of self-protective measures, seeking early consultation if symptoms occur to prevent loss of life, and saying no to indiscriminate fogging. (RO)
