THE Department of Health (DOH) has noted the rise in dengue cases in three regions — Central Luzon, National Capital Region (NCR) and Central Visayas — over the past month.From June 5 to July 2, the DOH said 16,324 dengue cases were recorded in the country.Twenty percent or 3,196 of these cases were from Central Luzon, 1,729 or 11 percent from NCR, and 1,703 or 10 percent were from Central Visayas.Since the start of 2022 until July 2, the Philippines registered a total of 65,190 dengue cases, 83 percent higher than the 35,715 dengue cases recorded during the same period in 2021.The DOH said Central Luzon had the most number of cases since January with 9,448 cases, followed by Central Visayas with 7,771 cases, and Zamboanga Peninsula with 5,708 cases.The number of fatality due to the disease from January was at 274 — 36 in January, 32 in February, 39 in March, 46 in April, 63 in May and 58 in June.The DOH said that from June 5 to July 2, 13 out of the 17 regions in the country have exceeded their dengue epidemic threshold. This, however, was lower than it was during the previous month (May 5 to June 4) in which 15 regions exceeded epidemic threshold.It said that a “sustained increasing trend” in dengue cases was recorded in Central Luzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Davao Region, Soccsksargen, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and Cordillera Administrative Region.Amid the increase in dengue cases in the country, the DOH earlier said that it is studying dengue vaccines, which may prevent the fatal effects of the disease.DOH officer-in-charge Maria Rosario Vergeire said at least 23 dengue vaccines were included in the emergency medicine list of the World Health Organization.The DOH also instructed hospitals to provide priority lanes for suspected dengue cases. (SunStar Philippines)