The Department of Health (DOH)-Western Visayas Center for Health Development (WVCHD) is calling on the public to intensify search-and-destroy activities in their communities following a sharp rise in dengue cases across the region.
From January 1 to February 15, 2025, the DOH-WVCHD recorded 1,703 dengue cases, marking a significant increase from the 988 cases reported in the same period last year.
In Morbidity Week 7 alone (February 9-15), the region logged 292 new infections. Children remain the most vulnerable, with 38 percent of cases involving those aged 1 to 10 years old, while 31 percent affected individuals aged 11 to 20.
Dr. Bea Camille Natalaray, Medical Officer IV of the DOH-WVCHD’s Infectious Diseases section, attributed the surge to changing weather patterns, particularly frequent rains that create more mosquito breeding grounds.
She emphasized that mosquitoes thrive in stagnant water, which serves as their habitat, and that more breeding areas result in more mosquitoes in communities.
Always check surroundings
She stressed the importance of search-and-destroy activities and urged the public to consistently check their surroundings for potential breeding sites, especially with unpredictable weather and frequent rains.
In 2024, Western Visayas recorded a total of 34,880 dengue cases, highlighting the persistent threat of the mosquito-borne disease.
In response, the DOH-WVCHD launched the Alas Kwatro Kontra Mosquito campaign on February 24 to reinforce efforts against dengue.
The campaign encourages communities to conduct daily cleanup activities at 4 p.m. to eliminate mosquito breeding sites.
Natalaray urged residents to develop the habit of checking their homes, workplaces, communities, and schools at the same time every day to reduce mosquito populations.
She also encouraged barangays identified as dengue hotspots to support fogging operations or coordinate with their local government units for assistance.
Ready
DOH-WVCHD has also prepositioned 23,690 dengue combo test kits across provinces and cities as of January 2025.
The agency also distributed 3,600 bottles of larvicide, 1,104 bottles of adulticides for fogging and misting, 4,000 sachets of adulticides for indoor residual spraying, and 3,000 long-lasting insecticide-treated nets as of December 2024.
The DOH also issued a memorandum instructing health care facilities to establish or re-establish dengue fast lanes to ensure immediate treatment for patients.
As dengue cases continue to rise, health authorities stress the urgency of community participation in preventive measures.
The health department reiterated that eliminating mosquito breeding sites remains the most effective way to curb the spread of the disease.*
Reymund Titong is a Filipino journalist steadily building his voice in the field of news reporting, driven by a commitment to tell meaningful and relevant stories.
He serves as a correspondent for Rappler, contributes to Negros Daily Bulletin, and maintains a blog on Medium.