MANILA, July 1 (Bernama-Xinhua) -- The Philippines recorded 205 deaths from Jan 1 to June 15 this year due to dengue, as cases started to rise amid the wet season, the country's Department of Health (DOH) said Monday, according to Xinhua. The DOH has sounded the alarm, reporting "a slight increase" in the number of cases of the mosquito-borne disease. During the period, a total of 77,867 dengue cases were recorded across the country, marking a 15 per cent surge from the corresponding period last year. Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa has issued a call to action, emphasising that it is not too late to make a difference. He urged local governments to take the lead in destroying mosquito breeding grounds. On May 29, the weather bureau declared the start of the rainy season in the Philippines. Water-borne infectious diseases, including dengue, usually peak at the start of the rainy season due to fluctuating weather conditions, flooding and accumulation of contaminated water. Source: BERNAMA News Agency