Dengue cases in Metro Manila reach alert threshold

MANILA, Philippines — Dengue cases in the National Capital Region (NCR) have reached “alert level,” the Department of Health (DOH) reported yesterday.

The DOH-NCR also reported that leptospirosis cases in some areas in the region have reached the epidemic threshold.

Mary Grace Labayen, of the DOH-NCR Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit, said 24,232 dengue cases were recorded in Metro Manila from Jan. 1 to Oct. 26.

The figure is 34.47 percent higher than the 18,020 cases registered during the same period last year.

The DOH said 25.62 percent of the dengue cases came from Quezon City.

Clustering of cases in barangays was observed in all local government units in the NCR. Four LGUs reached epidemic threshold for dengue and three others are under alert level.

“Metro Manila has reached epidemic threshold for dengue,” Labayen said.

An alert threshold is an early warning for health authorities that dengue cases are higher than normal level, he said.

Most of the dengue cases were children aged five to nine.

Sixty-six deaths due to dengue were recorded in the NCR in the first 10 months of the year.

DOH-NCR regional director Rio Magpantay said 14 of the 17 cities and town in Metro Manila posted an increase in dengue cases.

Magpantay urged the public to take necessary precautions against dengue.

He said all areas in the region are considered “vulnerable to dengue and community cleanup is not enough.”

“We should look at the breeding sites of mosquitoes, maybe in the informal settlers’ areas and other crowded places,” he said.

Labayen also reported that leptospirosis cases in some areas in the region have reached “epidemic threshold.”

“Cases of leptospirosis in Metro Manila continue to increase, but have yet to reach the alert threshold,” she said.

Labayen explained that epidemic threshold means cases have significantly increased and may lead to a possible outbreak of the disease.

From Jan. 1 to Oct. 26, 2,734 leptospirosis cases were recorded in the NCR, with 216 deaths. The figure is 90.92 percent higher during the same period last year and 159.64 percent higher than the last five years.

The majority of leptospirosis patients were men belonging to the 55 to 59 age bracket.