Philippine records 300,000 cases of acute respiratory infection

MANILA, Philippines — More than 300,000 cases of acute respiratory infection have been recorded in the country in the first six months of this year, the Department of Health (DOH) reported yesterday.

Data showed that during the second quarter of 2022, a total of 340,031 people suffered from acute respiratory infection.

Of the 340,031 cases, 177,946 were females while 162,085 were males.

The DOH noted that the age group one to four years recorded the most number of cases with 92,350 composed of 47,129 males and 45,221 are females.

The five to nine years age group posted 48,225 cases composed of 24,475 males and 23,480 females.

The 29 days to 11 months age group recorded 39,070 cases composed of 20,110 are males and 18,960 females.

Among the regions, Central Luzon posted the highest number of acute respiratory infection cases with 134,113. It was followed by Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) with 49,487 cases. The Cordilleras recorded 42,924 cases, followed by Cagayan Valley with 31,479 cases.

Health officials said Bicol recorded 24,958 cases.

Earlier, the government expressed support to a call by the World Health Organization and health groups worldwide seeking to phase out fossil fuels due to their harmful effects on health and the environment.

Health officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said the harmful effects of fossil fuel is one of the leading causes of respiratory illnesses among Filipinos.

Measles cases

Meanwhile, the number of people afflicted with measles this year continues to grow, according to the DOH’s Measles Surveillance Report.

The report said there were 467 cases of measles reported from Jan. 1 to Oct. 8.

The figure is 203 percent higher than the 154 cases recorded during the same period last year.

Calabarzon posted the highest number of cases with 84, followed by Central Visayas with 63, and National Capital Region 53.

Central Visayas posted the highest increase at 1,160 percent, from five last year to 63.

Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan) posted an increase of 950 percent or from two to 21.

Northern Mindanao recorded a 278-percent increase from nine to 34.

This year recorded one fatality due to measles. None died from the disease in 2021.

Last month, the health department said all 17 regions in the country were at high risk for a measles outbreak.

DOH-Epidemiology Bureau chief Alethea de Guzman said this was due to low immunization rate among children over the recent years.