THE Provincial Health Office (PHO) of Benguet has recorded a 74 percent drop in dengue cases in 2025 but urged the public not to be complacent and still observe preventive measures.
In a media interview on Tuesday, Dr. Cham Bacuso of Benguet PHO said 1,300 dengue cases were recorded in the province from Jan. 1 to Aug. 9, 2025, down from the 4,803 recorded during the same period last year, 2024.
"This is 74 percent decrease," he said. "This, however, does not mean we have to be complacent."
Of Benguet's 13 municipalities, the top three that recorded the most number of cases are Itogon with 368, La Trinidad with 212, and Tublay with 146.
Aside from the number of cases, recorded deaths due to dengue during the period also dropped from seven last year to only one this year.
Bacuso attributed the decline to increased public awareness regarding dengue prevention.
Still, he said there is a need to sustain anti-dengue efforts as dengue "is no longer a rainy season illness."
"It happens every day, it happens everywhere, affecting any person, rich or poor. That is why we need to sustain what we do, cleaning our surroundings and inside our houses for possible mosquito breeding sites," Bacuso said.
The official added that the provincial government has the necessary logistics in case of a surge in the number of cases.
"We are hoping we won't use them because that will mean many cases," he said.
Bacuso urged the public to seek medical consultation when experiencing "flu-like symptoms" to avoid reaching the "aggravated stage" of dengue when blood transfusion is already needed.
Leptospirosis
Meanwhile, amid the significant drop in dengue cases, Bacuso said there is an increase in leptospirosis cases in the province, from eight during the Jan. 1 to Aug. 9 period in 2024 to 20 in 2025, or a 160-percent increase.
He again urged the public to seek early consultation when symptoms persist and to take prophylaxis medicine two to four days after wading in floodwaters suspected to have leptospirosis bacteria. (PNA)