By NewsDesk @infectiousdiseasenews
The Philippines has battled a number of outbreaks and/or health situations in 2019 to include dengue fever, diphtheria, measles and polio. Below is some updated data from the UN:
Dengue fever
Philippines health officials declared a dengue fever epidemic in August and since that time the number of cases have more than doubled. To date, about 350,000 cases have been reported nationally, including 1,342 deaths.
OCHA says the current dengue epidemic is the largest in the last ten years, or since the disease has been monitored in the Philippines.
Diphtheria
In a follow-up on the diphtheria situation in the Philippines, the Department of Health has reported 197 cases through Oct. 5. This is an increase of 47 per cent compared to the same period in 2018.
The vaccine preventable disease is responsible for 47 deaths.
National Capital Region, Region IV-A and Cordillera Autonomous Region have reported high numbers of cases.
Measles
In an update on the measles outbreak on the archipelago this year, health officials have reported over 42,200 cases through early October. In addition, measles complications were responsible for 560 deaths.
More than eight out of 10 people affected by the measles outbreak were children four years of age and younger.
The good news is the reported cases of measles are declining as well as the case fatality rate.
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