By JEN BAYLON
The Department of Health (DOH) is intensifying its preparations for an expected significant increase in dengue cases this year.
“We are due for another surge this year. We already saw cases rising as early as January. In fact, we forecast this last year,” DOH Undersecretary Dr. Mary Ann Maestral said.
She said dengue cases typically spike every three to five years, with the last major surge recorded in 2019.
Based on this pattern, health officials are expecting another peak this year.
“I issued a department order in January, mandating the activation of dengue fast lanes nationwide,” Maestral said.
The DOH said dengue fast lanes at hospitals across the country will provide immediate care for patients exhibiting dengue symptoms, such as high fever, severe headaches and muscle pain.
These fast lanes aim to prevent complications by ensuring prompt diagnosis and treatment.
The readiness of these facilities will be evaluated this week as part of a nationwide inspection ordered by DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa.
Maestral is scheduled to visit the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital and the City Health Office in Bacolod City on Friday, March 7, to assess their preparedness against dengue.
Other members of the DOH Executive Committee will conduct similar inspections in other regions.
Based on the DOH data, dengue cases have already shown an alarming increase in the first two months of this year, with 52,008 cases recorded nationwide.
Maestral noted that, while most cases are not hemorrhagic — considered the more severe and potentially fatal form of dengue — the public should remain vigilant.
Dengue remains a persistent public health challenge in tropical countries like the Philippines due to its seasonal nature and the prevalence of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that carry the virus.
The rainy season from June onwards creates ideal breeding conditions for these mosquitoes, often leading to a surge in cases.
The Negros Occidental Provincial Health Office (PHO) earlier said the province is already grappling with a significant rise in the number of dengue cases.
The province recorded a total of 1,012 dengue cases, a dramatic leap of 421.65 percent from the 194 cases reported during the same period last year, based on PHO’s Morbidity Week No. 8 data from January 1 to February 22.
The surge has resulted in six dengue-related fatalities, data showed.
Meanwhile, the Bacolod City Health Office reported 156 dengue cases in the capital city from January 1 to February 15, marking a substantial 147.6 percent increase compared to the 63 cases reported in the same period in 2024.
The alarming increase has prompted urgent calls for heightened vigilance and comprehensive preventative measures across the province.
The PHO is urging residents to take proactive steps to eliminate mosquito breeding sites by practicing the “4S” strategy, which includes
* Search and destroy mosquito-breeding grounds by eliminating stagnant water and containers
* Self-protection measures like applying insect repellent and wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants
* Seek early consultation with a doctor or health worker for any symptoms
* Support fogging or spraying in local hotspot or outbreak areas where an increase in cases is registered
Dengue is spread by the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, and causes a severe flu-like illness that can sometimes be fatal.
One of the most common symptoms of dengue is a sudden high-grade fever that may reach approximately 40 degrees Celsius, the DOH said.
Symptoms start four to 10 days after exposure to a mosquito bite, with most cases getting better in one to two weeks.
The DOH said that once the fever subsides after four or five days, warning signs will appear — bleeding gums, rashes and color changes in the stool.
This is already considered an advanced stage because there is already bleeding inside the body, the DOH said./JB, WDJ