Five people have died from dengue in the Philippines as health officials recorded an alarming increase of cases in the first 12 days of the year, Xinhua quoted local press as reporting today. Dengue cases recorded at the San Lazaro Hospital in Manila have piled up to 380 from Jan. 1 to Jan. 12, a 211 percent increase compared to the same period last year, local TV network ABS-CBN News reported, citing Eric Tayag, chief of the Philippine National Epidemiology Center of the Department of Health (DOH). The San Lazaro Hospital is the main medical facility that takes in dengue cases from all over Metro Manila, capital region of the country. Tayag said that of the 380 cases, five have already died. The health official said the number could rise as the DOH has yet to check other hospitals in Metro Manila. "What's alarming is the increase of dengue cases as early as (this month) in Metro Manila areas compared to last year," he said. The official said that due to the alarming increase in dengue cases, the DOH has decided to launch an anti-dengue drive this month. Tayag said that as early as this month, hospitals in Metro Manila may put up express lanes in anticipation of dengue victims to pour into medical facilities this month. Tayag said the increase in dengue cases in Metro Manila can be attributed to the abnormal weather condition in the country. He mentioned that dengue-carrying mosquitoes could have been spreading because of the rain showers in the past few days. The health official reminded parents to immediately bring their children to hospitals for checkup once they catch fever or show early signs of dengue. The disease is manifested by a sudden onset of fever with flu-like symptoms of muscle and joint pains and severe headache. The patient's skin also develops bright red rashes, which initially appears on lower limbs and chest.
