By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

In a follow-up on the dengue fever situation in Baguio City, officials are reporting a five-fold increase in cases compared to the same period in 2020, prompting Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong to direct barangay (village)  officials to immediately mobilize their Barangay Anti-Dengue Brigade (BADB) and to comply with the city Anti-Dengue Ordinance that requires regular cleaning activities.

“We have to do continuous clean-up activities, it should become a part of our regular schedule because it is the only way that mosquitoes will not live among us,” he said.

Baguio health officials have reported 671 dengue cases from January to August 6 this year, compared to the 123 cases in the same period last year.

According to the World Health Organization, the incidence of dengue has grown dramatically around the world in recent decades. A vast majority of cases are asymptomatic and hence the actual numbers of dengue cases are underreported and many cases are misclassified. One estimate indicates 390 million dengue infections per year (95% credible interval 284–528 million), of which 96 million (67–136 million) manifest clinically (with any severity of disease). Another study, of the prevalence of dengue, estimates that 3.9 billion people, in 128 countries, are at risk of infection with dengue viruses.