Philippines declares dengue epidemic

The Philippines Department of Health yesterday declared the number of dengue cases recorded so far this year a national epidemic. Already, the country has seen more than 146,000 cases beginning in January until late July, a 98% increase in cases over the same period last year. More than 600 people have died as a result. The health department said it was launching a campaign to find and destroy mosquito breeding sites, and is asking other organizations including schools and local communities to aid in the effort. Other Southeast Asian countries have also reported an uptick in dengue cases this year: Malaysia has seen twice as many cases this year than it did over the same period last year, and Vietnam has seen more than three times as many cases this year.