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MANILA - The Department of Health has monitored a spike in dengue cases just as it is controlling a measles outbreak in the country, an official said Monday.

Incidents are usually low during summer months, but the recent rains in some parts of the country may have caused this rise, said Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo.

Domingo confirmed that in Central Visayas, there have been 2,132 dengue cases so far this year, with 18 fatalities.

"This is very unusual for this time of the year. The changes in climate has been making dengue a year-long problem—dati, hinihintay lang natin 'yan pag tag-ulan," he told ANC's Headstart.

With the Dengvaxia drug banned in the Philippines after last year's controversy, "vector control" is the best protection the public can have against dengue, he said.

"You just have to stop the mosquito from spreading. Every time it rains, every family should take care, make sure all of the water reservoirs are drained, that no clean water is there for the mosquito to start multiplying and spreading the disease," he said.

Once there is an outbreak, authorities would also have to do fogging, he said.

Early detection of dengue could help prevent a child from dying of dengue, he added.

Immediately bring the child to the doctor if he/she develops a high grade fever and is extremely weak, especially if you've monitored prevalence of mosquitoes in your environment, he said.

"It’s really just fluid balance and supportive care that will make sure that child will survive that bout of dengue," he said.

The spike in dengue cases happened just as the DOH is monitoring measles outbreaks in different parts of the country. Domingo said nationwide, there have been 4,300 cases as of Sunday night, with 70 confirmed deaths.