BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — The Department of Health (DoH) here reported a slight increase in the number of dengue fever cases during the first four months of this year as compared with the same period last year in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

From January to the end of April this year, the DoH-CAR was able to record 348 dengue fever cases in the different parts of the region and that the same is 1.2 percent higher compared to the 344 dengue fever cases recorded by the agency during the same period last year.

Based on the reports from the different provinces, Kalinga recorded almost four folds increase in dengue cases with 91 (compared to 27 last year). For Abra from 18 last year it increased to 39 cases, for Baguio from 44 to 47 cases this year and Benguet from 61 to 62 cases this year.

Other provinces recorded decrease in cases, Apayao from 29 cases in 2010 to 11 this year, Ifugao from 105 in 2010 to 45 cases this year and Mountain Province from 44 to 23 cases.

Dr. Myrna Cabotaje, DoH-CAR regional director, said the DoH’s anti-dengue campaign is still centered on the 4S – Search and Destroy (dengue mosquito breeding grounds), Self-protection, Seek early treatment and Say no to indiscriminate fogging.