Wrapping up its listing of fireworks-related incidents, the Department of Health (DOH) counted a total of 609 such occurrences during the holidays.
Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said however, that the number may still go up with late reports coming in from remote areas of the country.
Herbosa said the DOH monitoring for tetanus cases would continue until Jan 25, considering the maximum incubation period of 21 days, with an average of 14 days.
The DOH reported nine new cases on Jan. 5-6, all involving fireworks.
The victims of the new cases were aged eight years to 55 years.
Four of the victims were hospitalized.
While the health department marked the end of FWRI surveillance for SY 2023, Herbosa said there were additional cases of stray bullet injuries, but these were still being validated with the Philippine National Police.