MANILA, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines' Department of Health (DOH) said on Saturday that it tallied 340,860 dengue cases from Jan. 1 to Nov. 16 this year, 81 percent higher than the same period last year.
The DOH said it tallied 881 deaths due to dengue in the cited period. The agency said that fatality rate was 0.26 percent so far this year, lower than the 0.34 percent recorded last year.
Philippine Health Secretary Teodoro Herboza urged Filipinos to be vigilant, especially those impacted by floodwaters brought about by six typhoons that hit the country in October and November.
After the successive typhoons, mosquitos can breed in stagnant waters, he said.
Dengue is endemic in the Philippines. Water-borne infectious diseases, including dengue, usually peak during the rainy season. ■