EPIDEMIOLOGY OF DENGUE OUTBREAK IN THE PHILIPPINES

ABSTRACT

This research aims to spread the awareness about dengue to the people who may suffer
from this kind of diseases. This will provide information of what is dengue and how it occurs and
prevent this in our community. To gather the needed data, different references were used. A
systematic literature review was conducted to describe the epidemiology of dengue reported
from 2018-2019.

Keywords: Dengue, Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever, National Dengue Epidemic, Department of

Health, mosquitoes

INTRODUCTION

The overall spread of dengue fever has been credited to human mobility as well as the
passive transportation of Aedes aegypti, a mosquito with autonomous flying capacity. As
indicated by the writing, the worldwide spread of dengue from Africa to Asia and the Americas
was generally brought about by the occasional human voyages across the seas. Dengue is the
most important arbovirus disease of humans, in terms of both morbidity and mortality. Where
the human population occurs in rural communities, an epidemic transmission cycle may occur.
By the bite of Aedes Aegypti, humans will be infected with dengue viruses. Adult mosquitoes
tend to rest indoors, unobtrusive, where feeding on humans during daylight hours is their
preference. Dengue was first detected in the Philippines in the 1950s and remains a concern
because of widespread endemicity, minimal success of vector control measures, the possibility
of sequential infection by different serotypes and the risk for severe disease. As of July 2019,
there are more than 622 people out of 146,062 dengue cases who have died because of
dengue especially in IloIlo where there are 1,863 who were hospitalized due to the disease and
it is still increasing.

A systematic literature review was conducted to describe the epidemiology of dengue

reported from 2018-2019. The objective of this study is to determine the level of knowledge of
people about dengue and spread more reliable information thus, awareness amongst the
people why dengue should be a threat and be prevented. Furthermore, how the dengue occurs
and the increase of morbidity rate in the Philippines will be identified. Given the 2-3 year
periodicity of dengue cases we estimated that atleast 5-10 years of data would be necessary to
provide accurate information of the recent issues of dengue outbreaks in the Philippines.

BODY

Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection that causes a severe flu-like illness and,
sometimes causing a potentially lethal complication called severe dengue (previously known as
dengue hemorrhagic fever). It was first recognized in the Philippines and Thailand and today it
is a global issue and has a leading cause of hospitalization and death among the people. These
mosquitoes thrive in areas with standing water which includes water tanks, containers, and old
tires. Lack of reliable sanitation and regular garbage collection also contribute to the spread of
the mosquitoes. It occurs mostly in urban and suburban settings with higher transmission rates
happening during the rainy season (July-December). If not prevented it may lead to Dengue
Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) that may cause circulatory system failure and shock, and can be
fatal. Dengue is also related to some diseases which is Zika Virus, Yellow fever, West Nile Virus
and Japanese Encephalitis.

On August 6, 2019, the Department of Health declared a National Dengue Epidemic,

urging all regional DOH to step up dengue surveillance, case management and outbreak
response, clean up drives and vector control in health facilities and communities. The
department also conducts a Sabayang 4-O’Clock Habit para sa Deng-get out that focuses on
search and destroy the mosquito breeding sites and to enable the LGUs to use their quick
response funds to help address the epidemic. According to the Department of Health, there are
a total of 146,062 dengue cases from January to July and it is still rapidly increasing. There are
622 people who have died out of 146,062 dengue cases as of July 20, 2019 – a number 98%
higher than the recorded incidence during the same period last year that has 69,088 dengue
cases.

The most affected areas are Western Visayas (Region VI), which had the greatest
number of reported dengue cases so far this year with 13,164, followed by Calabarzon (Region
IVA) with 11,474 cases, Central Visayas (Region VII) with 9,199 cases, Region XII or
Soccsksargen 2 (9,107 cases) and Region X or Northern Mindanao (8,738 cases) with many
municipalities seeking a state of calamity. The provincial government of Iloilo has reported that
their 12 hospitals are licensed to accommodate 615 patients daily; with the dengue outbreak,
the bed occupancy rate went up to 316% or 1,863 patients and continuously increasing. Iloilo
Province declared dengue outbreak last 5 July 2019.

In response to the ongoing dengue outbreak in the Philippines, other organization

around the world offered a help. European Union is the world’s leading donor of humanitarian
aid and they provided €100 000 EUR (PHP 5.670 million) to assist the affected communities
especially the Visayas, CALABARZON, Central Luzon and Metro Manila. In addition, water
sources, which can be mosquito breeding grounds, will be cleaned and treated with a biological
control agent to eliminate mosquito larvae. The funding also focuses on enhancing public
awareness through health promotion activities and information dissemination to prevent and
reduce new cases.