PANGASINAN -- The Provincial Health Office (PHO) here reported a 107 percent increase in the number of acute gastroenteritis cases as of July 18.

Based on the PHO's latest updates, Pangasinan recorded 3,461 cases from January 1 to July 18 this year, remarkably much higher compared to the same period last year which saw 1,674 cases.

The PHO noted that aside from the increase in the number of cases, their data also showed that death cases due to the said disease also increased by 90 percent with 19 deaths recorded from January 1 to July 18 this year compared to 10 deaths recorded in the same period last year.

Of the 19 fatalities, four deaths were reported in Dagupan City; two each in Mangaldan, Basista, Pozorrubio and San Fabian; and one death each in Anda, Bugallon, Binmaley, Calasiao, Sison, San Quintin and Umingan.

Most of the victims based on PHO’s data were children aged one to four years old.

Among the top 10 municipalities and cities included in PHO’s watchlist are Umingan with 226 cases, Lingayen (191), Mangaldan (181), Malasiqui (163), Bolinao (158), San Carlos City (146), Binmaley (132), Pozorrubio (124), Alaminos City (121) and Dasol (120).

Meanwhile, the PHO is also keeping an eye on other illnesses such as dengue, rabies, and leptospirosis.

Based on their monitoring of dengue in the given period this year, 736 cases have been recorded, which is 72 percent lower than last year’s 2,652 cases, with only one fatality each from Sta. Maria town and Dagupan City.

But for the rabies surveillance, five death cases have been recorded this year, which is 40 percent lower than last year’s seven death cases.

The fatalities are from the towns of Aguilar, San Fabian, Sta. Barbara, Rosales, and Alaminos City.

Leptospirosis cases recorded a 31 percent decrease, with only nine cases and no fatality recorded this year in contrast to 2021’s data with 13 cases and one death.