DOH expecting a big dengue outbreak in 2025

Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said Wednesday that the Philippines may face a dengue outbreak this year as cases continue to increase even by as much as 78% than last year.

The chief of the Department of Health (DOH) raised concerns following the report that the dengue cases recorded from January 1 to March 15, 2025, already reached 76,425—much higher than the 42,822 cases during the same period in 2024. 

“Tumaas ang ating dengue [cases] by over 75% kumpara sa last year and because of this, ine-expect ko na ito siguro ‘yung taon,” Herbosa said in an Unang Balita interview.

(Our dengue cases increased by over 75% compared to last year. Because of this, we expect an outbreak this year.)

“Every 3 to 5 years kasi nagkakaron tayo ng outbreak ng dengue. Ang outbreak nating huli 2019. So naghihintay tayo ng malaking outbreak. So ito ‘yung taon na ‘yun na most likely,” he added.

(We have a dengue outbreak every 3 to 5 years. Our last outbreak was in 2019. We are expecting a big outbreak, and it’s most likely to happen this year.)

The regions with the highest cases of dengue so far are Calabarzon (15,108 cases), National Capital Region (13,761 cases), and Central Luzon (12,424 cases).

The DOH, however, pointed out that the case fatality rate or the number of people dying from the disease remained low at 0.41%.      

In February, the DOH launched a nationwide campaign in a bid to prevent and control the spread of dengue-bearing mosquitos in the country.

Most people who get dengue have mild or no symptoms at all, and will get better after one or two weeks. However, severe dengue can be fatal, and those who have this need to be treated in hospitals.

The most common symptoms of dengue include high fever, severe headache, muscle and joint pains, nausea, and rashes. Some people may also get pain behind the eyes, vomiting, and swollen glands.

These symptoms, the DOH said, start four to 10 days after exposure from a mosquito bite, and can last for two to seven days.

The agency continues to remind the public to clean areas that may serve as breeding grounds for mosquitoes. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News