The Department of Health (DOH) said that there is a decline in the number of dengue cases and deaths recorded this year.
"Last year, nag-declare tayo ng dengue outbreak. Fortunately, for this year, sharp decline sa number of cases…Same with the number of dengue mortalities," said Dr. Norielyn Evangelista, Program Manager of the DOH's National Aedes-borne Viral Diseases Prevention and Control Program.
Evangelista said that the cumulative total of dengue cases is at 59,675 from January 1 to August 15. Last year, there were a total of 430,282 dengue cases reported, she noted.
Dengue mortalities have also dropped from 1,612 deaths in 2019 versus 231 this year.
So far, there is no region in the country that has reached an alert level or epidemic level when it comes to dengue cases, she noted.
The DOH official attributed the drop in cases to the strengthened efforts of the agency against the mosquito-borne illness.
“What we're doing right now is we are strengthening all the components of our programs. So yung components ng program natin : we have surveillance, case management diagnosis, research, health promotion, and integrated vector management,” said Evangelista.
“This can be attributed to the increase of awareness of the Filipinos. Mas na-realize natin that health is wealth,” she added.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire assured that the decline in the number of dengue cases is not due to the non-admission to medical facilities because of the coronavirus-disease (COVID-19) scare.
"It would not be under the radar, coming from the Department of Health. We are very much preparing for this dengue season at ayaw namin iyan na makaka-burden pa sa ating health system kung saka-sakaling tataas ito ," said Vergeire.
“We recognize the fact it’s dengue season, the DOH is prepared. And we have coordinated with our local government units para mapaigting natin ang preventive side at para hindi na tayo magkaroon pa ng additional na worry dito sa ating sitwasyon with this pandemic ,” she added.