31 Mar 2019 | 12:46 PM UTC
Philippines: Dengue fever outbreak continues nationwide as of mid-March /update 2
Health officials report over 48,000 cases of dengue fever nationwide as of mid-March; further spread of the disease likely to be reported over the coming weeks
Event
Health officials have recorded 48,634 cases of dengue fever nationwide between January 1 and March 16. According to the Department of Health, the figure represents a 170 percent increase in cases over the same period in 2018. Authorities are continuing to implement public health measures, including fumigation campaigns aimed at eliminating mosquito breeding grounds, to hinder the further spread of the disease. Despite such measures, further spread of the disease is likely to be reported over the coming weeks.
Context
Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne disease found mostly in urban and semi-urban areas. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, nausea, and rash. Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) is a potentially deadly complication that is characterized by high fever, enlargement of the liver, and hemorrhaging.
Advice
Individuals present in the Philippines are advised to take measures to protect themselves from mosquito bites (e.g. by wearing covering clothing, using insect repellent, and sleeping in a screened-in or air-conditioned room) and to eliminate possible mosquito breeding grounds on their properties (e.g. small pockets of fresh water, such as rainwater that has collected in cans, bottles, tires, flower pots, clogged gutters, etc.).
