The Philippine health department warned that local dengue cases may rise to 80,000 by the end of 2010 as the number of patients continues to increase. As of Aug. 14 this year, 54,659 dengue cases have been recorded nationwide, local online media reported Tuesday. According to Dr. Eric Tayag, chief of the National Epidemiology Center, dengue cases is expected to rise in September. This is because dengue, caused by dengue-carrying mosquitoes, is no longer considered a rainy season disease, Xinhua reported. Tayag said the El Nino-induced dryspell caused a water shortage. This forced people to store water in containers in their homes, increasing in the number of mosquitoes. Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water, whether it is clean or dirty.
