THE Department of Health (DOH) has reported an increase in chikungunya and dengue cases from January to May this year compared to last year.

The Philippines has recorded 43 cases of chikungunya, a virus transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes, from January 1 to May 21.

The DOH said this is 169 percent higher compared to the record in the same period last year.

Data from the DOH show that 29 cases or 67 percent were from Central Visayas while eight cases or 19 percent were from the Davao Region.

Earlier, DOH-11 said it detected 17 suspected cases of the virus.

According to the DOH, 13 cases were recorded from April 24 to May 21.

Of this, 10 cases or 77 percent were from Central Visayas, one case was from the Davao Region, another was from Calabarzon and the remaining was from the National Capital Region.

“The region with the most number of cases cumulatively and recently was Region VII… However, from May 1-21, 2022, there were only two cases reported in the said region,” the DOH said in a statement.

The DOH said no deaths were recorded among the present cases.

Earlier, the World Health Organization said that a chikungunya virus infection may result in fever, severe joint pain, muscle pain, joint swelling, headache, nausea, fatigue and rash.

Meanwhile, the DOH data also show that there were 34,938 reported cases of dengue from January 1 to May 21 this year, or 23 percent higher compared to the same period last year.

Of this, a total of 4,544 cases or 13 percent were from Central Visayas, 4,312 or 12 percent were from Central Luzon, while 3,215 or 9 percent were from the Zamboanga Peninsula.

A total of 10,738 dengue cases were recorded from April 24 to May 21, of which 1,416 or 13 percent were from Central Visayas, 1,329 or 13 percent were from Central Luzon and 856 or 8 percent were from the Zamboanga Peninsula.

Also, the DOH said that Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Mimaropa, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Davao Region, Bangasmoro Region and the Cordillera Administrative Region showed an increase in cases.

The DOH said 180 have already died due to dengue this year.