THE Department of Health on Friday said the number of dengue cases in the country has increased by 1.5 percent this year based on accumulated reports from its sentinel hospitals.

Data from the DOH’s National Epidemiology Center (NEC) recorded 31,887 dengue cases from Jan. 1 through Oct. 20, 2007 compared to 31,415 cases monitored during the same period in 2006.

The number of deaths resulting from dengue, however, were lower at 312 compared to 2006’s 325.

Regions with the highest number of cases were Western Visayas (18 percent), National Capital Region (15 percent), Central Visayas (10 percent), Calabarzon (10 percent), Southern Mindanao (10 percent) and Northern Mindanao (9 percent).

In NCR, Quezon City had the most number of cases with 1,325, followed by Manila (1,011), Kalookan (485), Pasig (302) and Malabon (250).

Clustering of dengue cases in Metro Manila were observed in Antipolo Street, Parola Compound and North Cemetery in Manila; Baesa, Bagbag, Bago Bantay, Batasan, Commonwealth, Diliman, Galas, Gulod-Novaliches, Holy Spirit, Manresa, Masambong, Nagkaisang Nayon, North Fairview, Pag-asa, Project 8, Payatas, Santol, Tandang Sora, and V. Luna in Quezon City; Bagong Silang in Kalookan; Rizal in Makati; Catmon, Longos, Tonsuya, and Tugatog in Malabon; Addition Hills and Hulo in Mandaluyong; Concepcion, Malanday, and Parang in Marikina.

Other areas of clustering were observed in Alabang, Bayanan, Cupang, Putatan in Muntinlupa; Sucat in Parañaque; Bagong Ilog, Manggahan, Maybunga, Palatiw, Pinagbuhatan, Pineda, Rosario, and Santolan in Pasig; Hagonoy, Signal Village, Tipas, and Western Bicutan in Taguig; Dalandanan, Lawang Bato, Malinta, Marulas, Palasan, Veinte Reales in Valenzuela.