HEALTH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa yesterday said the Department of Health is set to declare a dengue outbreak because of a surge in cases of the mosquito-borne disease.
He said the declaration is based on the ongoing evaluation of the DOH Epidemiology Bureau, that “our dengue cases are on outbreak levels.”
The DOH last declared a national dengue epidemic in August 2019.
“I will be declaring a dengue outbreak,” Herbosa said in a press conference.
No additional details were provided by the DOH but based on latest available data, there have been 136,161 dengue cases reported from January 1 to August 3.
This is 33 percent higher compared to the 102,374 cases recorded during the same period last year.
Fifteen out of the 17 regions in the country have also recorded increasing numbers of dengue cases. These are the National Capital Region (Metro Manila), Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Davao, Soccsksargen, and Caraga.
The DOH, in an earlier statement, said declaration of local disease outbreaks will come from provincial, city, or municipal authorities as provided under the “Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Law.”
With the looming declaration of a dengue outbreak, the DOH is calling on the public anew to follow the “4S strategy against dengue.”
This refers to “Search and Destroy” mosquito breeding grounds by eliminating stagnant water and their containers; “Self-protection” measures like insect repellent and wearing long-sleeve shirts and long pants; “Seek” early consultation with a doctor or health worker for any symptoms; and “Support” fogging or spraying in local hotspot or outbreak areas where an increase in cases is registered.
