MANILA (UPDATED) — The Department of Health has logged 208,000 dengue cases so far this year, which is 68 percent higher compared to the same period last year, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said Monday.

READ: Dengue cases rise 68 pct from same period last year -- DOH

Dengue cases are on an upward trend, and have increased 25 percent in the past 3 to 4 weeks, he said, noting that those who die of the disease remain low.

"May clustering tayo... Ang may more than 40-percent increase ay ang Region 3, Region 6 at Region 7. NCR, tumataas din po pero hindi kasing taas nitong tatlong rehiyon na ito," Herbosa said.

Herbosa attributed the rise in dengue cases to the increase in mosquitoes, which occurs when they have breeding sites. 

He emphasized that searching for and destroying these sites, along with keeping the surroundings clean, will help prevent both dengue and mosquito infestation.

The DOH is prioritizing dengue prevention through the use of anti-mosquito and anti-larva equipment, including spraying tools, which local government units can request from their respective regional offices.

The health agency also advised the public to wear long sleeves and apply insect repellent as protection against Aedes mosquitoes, which primarily bite during the day and are responsible for spreading dengue.

READ: Dengue cases in Philippines reach outbreak levels, says DOH chief

NATIONWIDE OUTBREAK?

Herbosa is not keen on declaring a nationwide dengue outbreak, and is leaving it up to local government units to take action as needed.

"Ang pag-declare po ng outbreak ay based on per LGU... Wala namang national outbreaks kasi endemic ang dengue. Ibig sabihin noon, all year round may dengue naman sa Pilipinas, hindi naman siya bagong sakit. Pero may mga LGU na talagang more than double 100 percent increase, iyon iyong mga nagdedeklara kasi sila iyong napupuno iyong kanilang ospital," he said.

"So sila, nagco-confer lang with DOH local epidemiology surveillance unit at pag totoo iyong datos nila, hinahayaan namin silang magdeklara para magamit nila iyong emergency budget nila, iyong state of calamity para magamit iyong calamity fund," he added.

DENGUE VACCINE

To date, Herbosa said there is no dengue vaccine that has been registered by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The official explained how these vaccines work, should there be available doses. 

"Ang dengue vaccine, many doses kasi iyan whether it's the old Dengvaxia or itong bago ng Takeda [Pharmaceuticals]... The dengue vaccine does not prevent you from getting dengue; it prevents you from getting serious dengue," he said.

"So kaya nga ang binibigyan ng bakuna iyong nagka-dengue na. Kasi iyong second dengue mo ang nagcau-cause ng severe infection, so iyon iyong pwede kang mamatay. So iyong vaccine would be given not as a public health program, but it will be given through clinics, bahala iyong pediatrician to decide based on status. Hindi siya gamit para sa outbreak ng dengue, at WHO na mismo ang nagsabi niyan. Meron silang finding na... the dengue vaccine is not the answer to dengue outbreak. Vector control talaga ang sinasabi," he added.

Herbosa shared hospitals are also able to quickly diagnose a patient with dengue through the help of rapid test kits.