IN JUST 11 weeks, close to 49,000 dengue cases have been reported nationwide, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
Based on the latest Dengue Surveillance Report, the DOH said there are already 48,634 cases reported from January 1 to March 16. This is higher than the 28,328 dengue cases recorded during the same period last year.
The number of deaths also went up from 150 last year to 184 this year.
Central Visayas was found to have the most number of cases with 5,421, followed by National Capital Region with 4,855, Calabarzon with 4,815, Caraga with 4,570, and Central Luzon with 4,009.
Deaths caused by dengue were also highest in Central Visayas with 33, followed by Cagayan Valley with 19, Western Visayas with 19, Metro Manila with 18, Zamboanga Peninsula with 16, and Calabarzon with 16.
The most affected age group by dengue are the five to nine years old with 12,424 (26 percent).
Majority of the victims are males, with 25,741 (53 percent).
Meanwhile, a total of 65 barangays scattered across 35 cities and municipalities in the country have been identified as dengue “hotspots.”
Provinces found to have dengue “hotspots” are Apayao, Compostela Valley, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte, and Surigao del Sur.
In Metro Manila, found to have dengue hotspots are the cities of Caloocan, Malabon, Marikina, Muntinlupa, Parañaque, Taguig, Quezon, and Valenzuela.
Dengue hotspots are defined as areas where there is clustering of cases in increasing number for two consecutive weeks. (HDT/SunStar Philippines)