In 2015, the Philippines reported more than 200,000 dengue fever cases, including nearly 600 deaths, making the archipelago one of the hardest hit nations from the mosquito borne viral disease.
Based on the latest data this year, the country has crossed the 100,000 case threshold, outpacing 2015 numbers to date.
As of Aug. 20, there were 101,401 suspected cases of dengue reported in 2016, including 422 deaths. This is 16% higher than that reported during the same period in 2015 (87,411).
The Philippines has already vaccinated hundreds of thousands of schoolchildren with the dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia since it’s roll-out in April.
Related: Ayoko sa Lamok: Filipino youth’s battle against dengue fever
Dengue infects nearly 400 million people across more than 120 countries each year. Most survive with few or no symptoms, but more than two million annually develop what can be a dangerous dengue hemorrhagic fever, which kills more than 25,000 people each year.
Dengue can cause a high fever, severe headaches, severe pain behind the eyes, rash and joint, muscle or bone pain. Dengue hemorrhagic fever occurs when blood leaks from blood vessels into other parts of the body, which can lead to failure of the circulatory system, shock and possibly death, without prompt treatment.
Related:
- Philippines reports 1st local Zika transmission in Iloilo woman
- Singapore outbreak climbs to 283 Zika cases
- Malaysia reports 3rd Zika virus case, this one in a pregnant woman
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