MANILA: The Department of Health (DOH) announced that dengue cases in the Philippines have reached 314,785 from January 1 to October 26. Despite the high number of cases, the country's case fatality rate has decreased to 0.26 percent, compared to last year's 0.34 percent for the same period. According to Philippines News Agency, the DOH attributed the decrease in the fatality rate to improved health-seeking practices and better healthcare delivery. The report highlights that for every hundred Filipinos diagnosed with dengue, the number of deaths has decreased compared to the previous year. From September 29 to October 12, there were 21,097 dengue cases reported nationwide, which is an 8 percent decline compared to the 23,032 cases reported from September 15 to 28. However, some regions saw an increase in cases during this period. The National Capital Region reported 3,002 cases, up from 2,765, Central Luzon recorded 2,351 cases, up from 2,219, and Calabarzon reported 3,513 cases, up from 2,907. The DOH is collaborating with local government units to enhance prevention and testing initiatives against dengue. These efforts include destroying mosquito breeding grounds, disseminating information on protective measures such as covering more skin and using mosquito repellents, and ensuring early detection and management of cases. Additionally, the DOH is supplying diagnostic kits and insecticides to hotspot areas to further combat the spread of dengue. Source: Philippines News Agency