Dengue, typhoid cases up due to global warming

MANILA, Philippines – The number of dengue fever, typhoid fever, and cholera cases in the country in 2008 rose due to the effects of global warming, Health Secretary Francisco Duque said Friday.

In an interview over radio dzBB, Duque said the effects of global warming were becoming evident in the type of diseases that spread across the country over the past year.
A few months ago, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that global warming will contribute to the rise in dengue and malaria cases in the Philippines and their spread to other countries in the Asia Pacific Region.

“Global warming would expand the range of mosquitos that carry malaria and dengue to areas other than their natural South-East Asia habitat,” said Dr. Shegiru Omi, outgoing regional director of WHO Western Pacific region in September.

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