MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Health (DOH) has recorded 19,946 suspected dengue cases in the first 3 months of 2015 – 6.49% higher than the same period in 2014.

Dengue, a disease common in tropical and sub-tropical countries in the world, is transmitted through the bite of an Aedes mosquito. Dengue fever is potentially fatal and mainly affects children.

Based on the latest report from DOH’s epidemiology bureau, the region with the highest number of cases is Calabarzon (3,778 cases), followed by Central Luzon (2,732 cases), the National Capital Region (2,628 cases), and Northern Mindanao (2,241 cases).

ARMM recorded the highest increase in the number of cases at 126.1%, while Eastern Visayas saw the highest decrease at 85.8%.

The 5-page report, signed by Vito Roque Jr – the newly-designated officer-in-charge of the epidemiology bureau – covers the period January 1 to April 4, 2015.

Although the number of cases this year is higher than in 2014 (18,730 cases), less deaths were recorded, with only 53 deaths in 2015 compared to 85 deaths in 2014.

Most of the cases involved males (54.5%), and belonged to the 5 years old to 14 years old age group (38.7%). The youngest Filipino who had dengue was a less-than-a-month-old baby.

The Philippines is one of 4 countries in the Western Pacific which reported the highest dengue incidence in recent years. (READ: PH spends less than P1B to fight neglected tropical diseases)

The country is pinning its hopes on a dengue vaccine tested here and in 4 other Asian countries after it showed promising overall efficacy. It will be available in the health department’s vaccine program by July 2015. – Rappler.com

Close-up of a mosquito sucking blood from Shutterstock