Dengue cases in Philippines rise by 34 percent: government

0 Comments | AFP, May, 2008

MANILA (AFP) — The Philippines recorded 9,176 cases of dengue fever nationwide from January 1 to April 5 this year, an increase of almost 34 percent over the same period last year, the health department said Saturday.

Deaths due to dengue fever reached 108 in the year to April 5, a sharp increase from the 74 deaths recorded in the same period last year, according to figures released by the department.

Majority of the victims were male with the youngest victim one month old and the oldest 87 years. Health officials did not give a reason for the increase in the number of cases.

The nation's capital of Metropolitan Manila had the most cases recorded with 2,832, the department said.

World Health Organisation officials earlier this year warned that...