The Department of Health (DOH) has recorded an increase in the number dengue cases for the first quarter of 2015.

Based on the latest DOH statistics, 19,946 cases have been recorded from January 1 to April 4 of this year, 6.49 percent higher than the 18,730 cases in the same period in 2014.

Nationwide, the region with the highest number of cases is Calabarzon with 3,778 cases followed by Central Luzon, which had 2,732 cases. The National Capital Region had 2,628 cases while Northern Mindanao had 2,241 cases.

Majority of the victims were predominantly male at 54.5 percent. Ages of cases ranged from newborn babies to 97 years old. Most of the cases belonged to the 5 to 14 years age group or 38.7 percent of the total number of cases.

The number of deaths recorded is lower this year at 53, compared to the 85 deaths recorded in 2014.

These statistics show that the Philippines is among the four countries in the Western Pacific with the highest dengue incidence in recent years.