THE number of dengue cases in the country has exceeded 300,000 and the number of deaths has nearly doubled, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
Based on the latest Dengue Surveillance Report, the DOH said there were 307,704 cases reported from January 1 to September 14 as compared to 142,783 cases recorded during the same period last year.
The number of deaths also rose from 742 last year to 1,247 this year.
Calabarzon had the most number of dengue cases with 49,661, followed by Western Visayas (49,068), National Capital Region (23,251), and Central Luzon (23,046).
Deaths caused by dengue were highest in Western Visayas with 214, followed by Calabarzon (152), National Capital Region (122), and Central Visayas (109).
The DOH reported that regions that have exceeded the epidemic threshold are Ilocos Region, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Socsksargen, National Capital Region, and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
The Central Visayas and Davao Region have exceeded the alert threshold.\
Kids aged five to 9 were the most affected by dengue (69,549 or 23%) while males were found be majority of the victims with 161,319 (52%).
Last August 6, the DOH declared a national dengue epidemic due to the continuing rise in the number of cases.