Philippines: Dengue, leptospirosis, rabies cases up in some areas
Baguio City dengue
The Baguio City Health Services Office (CHSO) is reporting an increase in dengue cases in 2024.
CHSO data show 376 dengue cases from June 1 to 26 this year, up from the 75 cases from June 1 to 30, 2023.
Negros Oriental dengue
Dengue cases in Negros Oriental for the first half of the year rose to 151 percent higher than that of the same period last year, a health official said Wednesday.
Noel Ferrero, the Provincial Health Office's (PHO) dengue coordinator, said during a Kapihan forum here that 1,251 cases with four deaths were reported in the province from January 1 to June 22.
For the same period in 2023, only 499 dengue cases with no deaths were reported, he added.
The ten areas with the highest number of cases include Dumaguete City (128), Guihulngan City (121), Bais City (92), Tanjay City (92), Jimalalud (86), Sibulan (82), La Libertad (67), Mabinay (64), Siaton (60), and Ayungon (59).
Soccsksargen dengue
The Soccsksargen Region recorded 32 deaths due to dengue and listed 9,042 cases from Jan. 1 to June 15, an official of the regional Department of Health (DOH-12) office said Wednesday.
Roxfrestopher Boholst, DOH-12 mosquito-borne disease coordinator, said the latest dengue figure showed an increase of 44 percent compared to the same period last year when there were only 6,275 cases.
“North Cotabato has the highest number of dengue deaths, with 15, followed by South Cotabato with seven, Sultan Kudarat with five, Gen. Santos City with four, and one in Sarangani province,” he said in a statement.
North Cotabato also recorded the highest number of cases from Jan. 1 to June 15, with 3,541, followed by South Cotabato (1,814), Sultan Kudarat (1,338), Sarangani (1,303), and General Santos City (1,046).
Central Visayas dengue
Central Visayas reported an increase in dengue cases even during high temperatures, with almost 7,000 incidents recorded in the first semester of 2024, a health official said on Wednesday.
The region posted 6,968 dengue cases with 18 deaths from January to June, according to Dr. Ronald Jarvik Buscato, medical officer of the Department of Health (DOH) 7’s (Central Visayas) Communicable Diseases Section.
This was 95 percent higher compared to the same period last year, Buscato said, noting that the cases rose even at the height of the dry spell.
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Davao City leptospirosis
With the start of the rainy season, Dabawenyos were advised on Wednesday to be cautious of diseases such as dengue and leptospirosis.
The City Health Office (CHO) has recorded 70 cases of leptospirosis with 16 deaths from January 1 to June 8 this year.
The number of cases has increased by 62.8 percent compared to last year’s 43 cases in the same period.
Cebu City rabies
The Cebu City government here recorded an “alarming” number of rabies cases in 2023, a city veterinarian said recently.
Dr. Alice Utlang, head of the City Veterinary Office (CVO), urged pet owners to have their dogs and cats vaccinated to help the city manage the alarming increase in cases.
The city recorded 17 rabies cases in 2023 and 14 cases as of June 5, 2024.
The number of cases is already alarming considering it is still barely six months to December.
Most of these cases stemmed from bites by house dogs or dogs under human care.
“I would say it's alarming. That's why we are really asking dog owners to have their dogs vaccinated. They should contact their barangay because each barangay has a trained vaccinator,” Utlang said.