8 more LGUs may declare outbreak

At least eight more local government units in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and Calabarzon may declare a dengue outbreak following a surge in cases of the mosquito-borne illness, the Department of Health said yesterday.

“It’s not the rainy season yet. But what’s different now is the early rains, the shear line, the ITCZ, the easterlies– water gathers in places and mosquitoes breed there,” DOH spokesperson Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said even as he did not disclose the specific areas.

Quezon City declared a dengue outbreak on Saturday after reporting 1,769 cases from January 1 to February 14—a nearly 200 percent rise from the same period last year. The city also logged 10 dengue-related deaths this year, eight of whom were minors.

Nationwide, dengue cases have surged by 40 percent, with the DOH reporting 28,234 infections as of February 1, compared to the same period in 2024.

Despite the increase in cases, the DOH said the fatality rate remains at 0.35 percent – meaning only a small fraction of cases resulted in death.

Domingo explained that stagnant water from recent rains served as a breeding ground for dengue-carrying mosquitoes, even during drier months.

He said a fever reaching 40°C is one of the most common early symptoms of dengue.

“Dengue fever follows a pattern: the temperature spikes, then drops,” Domingo said.

After the fever subsides, warning signs such as bleeding gums, rashes, and changes in stool color may appear, indicating a severe stage of the disease, he said.

Symptoms typically appear four to 10 days after a mosquito bite, and doctors advise seeking medical attention immediately upon noticing signs of dengue.

In Quezon City, the Kings’ Montessori School suspended classes yesterday after a fogging operation.

Several schools, including the Holy Family School of Quezon City, North Fairview High School, Sinag-Tala Elementary School, Pinyahan Elementary School, and Shining Hope Academy, among others, advised students to wear long socks or jogging pants on PE days.

Meanwhile, in a concerted effort to combat the rising threat of dengue in the country, the Philippine Medical Association is set to officially launch the Empowering Networks to Defeat Dengue (EN.D. Dengue) Coalition today (February 18, Tuesday).

The event will take place at Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria, gathering key medical societies and organizations committed to eradicating dengue in the Philippines.

The formation of the EN.D. Dengue Coalition follows a meeting last month where the World Health Organization’s ambitious goal of reducing dengue cases by 50 percent and achieving zero dengue deaths by 2030 was discussed.

Dr. Erica Tania Davillo, chairperson of the PMA AdHoc Committee on Dengue Advocacy, is optimistic about the coalition’s role in addressing the dengue crisis.

“Through public education campaigns, advocacy, and innovative solutions, our mission is to make a sustainable impact on reducing the incidence and severity of dengue cases,” she said.