MANILA, May 28 (Xinhua) -- As many as 40,000 dengue cases are projected in the Philippines during the rainy season, the country's Department of Health (DOH) said on Wednesday.

    The rainy season lasts from June to October in the archipelago.

    While there have been no outbreaks of the disease, there have been clusters of cases in the cities of Manila, Davao, Zamboanga, Olongapo and San Fernando, the Philippine Daily Inquirer citing DOH Director Enrique Tayag as saying in a report posted on its website.

    The health agency earlier reported a 36.4 percent increase in dengue cases from January 1 to April 26 over the same period last year, from 7,697 to 10,497.

    The three regions with the most reported cases are the National Capital Region with 2,750, Central Luzon with 1,736, and Central Visayas with 1,384.

    Deaths from the disease also increased from 88 to 116 during this period, mostly in Central Visayas, the agency said.