Latest diseases in the Philippines 2019.

Source: Department of Health

Dengue

Based on the DOH Dengue Surveillance Report, Region VI (Western Visayas) had the most number of
cases at 23,330, followed by Region IV-A (CALABARZON) with 16,515, Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula)
with 12,317, Region X (Northern Mindanao) with 11,455, and Region XII (SOCCSKSARGEN) with 11,083
cases.

the Department of Health together with other government agencies, LGUs, schools, offices, and
communities will conduct the Sabayang 4-O’clock Habit para Deng-Get Out, focusing on search and
destroy of mosquito breeding sites. This is one of the primary interventions to prevent and control
dengue.

Leptospirosis

There were 1,030 cases of leptospirosis reported nationwide to the DOH from January 1 to June 9 this
year, which is 41% higher than the number recorded during the same period last year. Of this number,
339 were laboratory-tested and 77 turned positive for Leptospirosis. There were 93 deaths recorded.

Ages of the 1,030 cases ranged from one to 88 years. Majority (872 or 85%) were males. Most of the
cases came from Western Visayas (221), Caraga (162), and Region XI (86).

“Still, the best way is prevention. Avoid, if you can, wading in floodwaters to prevent being infected by
the Leptospira bacteria. Or use boots when it cannot be avoided and go to the nearest health center if
you have fever for two days,” the health chief concluded.

Diptheria

Cases of diphtheria and other infectious diseases are being monitored by the Epidemiology Bureau
regularly. From January 2019 – September 2019, there have been 167 cases and 40 deaths compared to
122 cases and 30 deaths cases in the same period in 2018. The reasons for the trend are being
investigated.

Aside from heightened immunization, the anti-toxin for diphtheria is available in the country, through
the assistance of the World Health Organization.

Antibiotics for diphtheria, namely penicillin, erythromycin, clarithromycin, and azithromycin, are locally
and commercially available.
Now more than ever, the importance of protecting our infants and children from vaccine preventable
diseases remains paramount. With our campaign, Back to bakUna, Una sa Lahat ang Bakuna, DOH calls
on our local chief executives, local government health workers, other health professionals, and civil
society groups to work together to reach every child and ensure that they receive the vaccines on time.

Polio

The Department of Health (DOH) confirms that Polio is re-emerging in the Philippines, nineteen years
after the country was declared polio-free by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2000.

Polio is an infectious disease which spreads rapidly. It can cause paralysis and, on rare occasions, can be
fatal. There is no cure for polio—it can only be prevented with multiple doses of polio vaccines that have
long been proven safe and effective.

One polio case was confirmed in a 3-year-old girl from Lanao del Sur. Aside from the confirmed case, a
suspected case of acute flaccid paralysis is awaiting confirmation. In addition, the poliovirus has been
detected in samples taken from sewage in Manila and waterways in Davao as part of the regular
environmental surveillance. The samples were tested by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine and
verified by the Japan National Institute for Infectious Diseases and the United States Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention.

A single confirmed polio case of vaccine-derived polio virus type 2 (VDPV2) or two positive
environmental samples that are genetically linked isolated in two different locations is considered an
epidemic in a polio free country.

meningococcemia

The Department of Health (DOH) disclosed that two (2) suspected meningococcemia cases, from Laguna
and Batangas, were confirmed positive for Neisseria meningitidis based on the Research Institute for
Tropical Medicine laboratory results. The Department is awaiting the laboratory confirmation of five (5)
more suspected meningococcemia cases.

“As of the moment, there is no meningococcemia outbreak in the country,” DOH Assistant Secretary of
the Public Health Services Team Maria Rosario Vergeire declared, “as cases are sporadic in nature and
are not clustering.”

From January to September 21, 2019, the DOH Epidemiology Bureau has recorded 169 cases with 88
deaths (case fatality rate of 52%). This is slightly higher than the cases recorded in same period last year,
162 cases with 78 deaths. Most of the cases (79%) reported were not laboratory confirmed, presenting a
gap in confirming the magnitude of the disease.