Fewer dengue cases in 3 regions

THREE of the 17 regions in the country are seeing fewer dengue cases compared to last year.

These are Bicol, Soccsksargen, and the Zamboanga Peninsula, according Health Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo.

He said the lower number dengue cases in the three regions could be attributed to better community engagement with regards to eliminating potential mosquito breeding sites.

“There must be coordinated response because mosquitoes transfer to different communities. If one barangay does the cleaning and the other one doesn’t, the mosquitoes will just transfer,” said Domingo.

“Community coordination and engagement are very important,” he added.

Domingo’s statement comes a day after the DOH said it will no longer declare a national dengue outbreak because data showed that not all areas nationwide warrant an outbreak declaration.

From January 1 to August 10, the health department recorded 150,354 cases nationwide, or 39 percent higher compared to the 107,953 dengue cases reported in the same period in 2023.