Nine regions of the country have shown a continuous increase in dengue cases, the Department of Health (DOH) said.
“‘Our cases for dengue (are) continuously increasing in nine out of the 17 regions in the country,” said DOH Officer-in-Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire during a press briefing on Friday, Aug. 19.
These regions are Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Cordillera Administrative Region, and the National Capital Region, the DOH said in a statement on Saturday, Aug. 20.
Recent DOH data showed that the country has already recorded 102,619 dengue cases from Jan. 1 to July 30. This is 131 percent higher compared to the reported cases during the same period in 2021 at 44,361. Deaths related to dengue stood at 368.
Vergeire noted that from July 3 to 30, they have recorded 23,414 dengue cases. Out of the said figure, 18,208 “were hospitalized.”
“We also have downloaded funds already to our hospitals para sa karagdagang resources na kakailanganin kung sakaling tataas pa ang admissions for dengue infections (for additional resources that will be needed in the event that admissions for dengue infections further increase),” she said.
Meanwhile, Vergeire said that they are still reviewing the different vaccines against dengue.
When asked about the Dengvaxia vaccine, Vergeire said that the manufacturer should apply for a certificate of product registration (CPR) from the Food and Drug Administration.
“Kung matatandaan nyo po ang CPR ng dengvaxia ay na-revoke (If you recall, the CPR of Dengvaxia was revoked) during that time because of non-compliance ng (with the) requirements sa (of the) Food and Drug Administration. So in order for us, para magamit uli ang bakuna na ito (to use this vaccine again), the manufacturers will again undergo or go through this process of applying for CPR, and kailangan ma-evaluate uli ng ating (and must be evaluated again by our) Health Technology Assessment Council,” she said.
She also added that the “DOH together with our experts are already reviewing the different vaccines available against dengue.”
Vergeire reminded the public and the local government units to practice the 4s strategy.
“Hangga’t wala po tayong ganitong bakuna laban sa dengue ngayon sa ating bansa, patuloy pa rin po nating ipatupad ang ating 4S strategy (As long as we do not have this vaccine against dengue in our country, we should continue to implement our 4S strategy),” she said.
The 4S strategy stands for Search and destroy mosquito-breeding sites, secure Self-protection measures like wearing long pants and long sleeved shirts and daily use of mosquito repellent, Seek early consultation, and Support fogging/spraying only in hotspot areas where increase in cases is registered for two consecutive weeks to prevent an impending outbreak.