CLOSE to 6,000 dengue cases, with 10 fatalities, have been recorded in the first six months of 2025, according to the Department of Health in Central Visayas (DOH 7).
In a forum on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, DOH 7 Communicable Diseases Section head Ronald Jarvik Buscato said the number is three percent higher compared to the same period last year; but it is still considered below the threshold level.
Central Visayas tallied a total of 5,880 dengue cases with 10 deaths from Jan. 1 to June 14, 2025, according to latest data from the DOH 7 Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit.
Speaking at the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas forum held at the Philippine Information Agency Regional Office, Buscato underscored the need for community-wide action to curb the spread of dengue, especially in highly urbanized areas like Cebu City where clusters of cases are frequently reported.
Buscato explained that dengue may present with flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, body pain and vomiting.
He urged the public to seek early medical attention if fever persists for more than two days or even earlier, so health professionals can assess the situation and rule out potential complications.
He also noted a trend since 2010 recorded by the DOH — a cyclical increase in dengue every three years, with a typical rise of about 10 percent.
Although cases this year are slightly higher than last years’ cases, they remain five percent lower than three years ago.
Buscato credited this to continuous mitigation efforts in the region.
DOH report
The province of Cebu logged the highest number of dengue cases at 2,936, followed by Bohol with 1,275, Cebu City with 999, Lapu-Lapu City with 378, and Mandaue City with 289.
Patients range from two days old to 94 years old. More than half of the total cases, or 53 percent, involved males.
Children aged five to 10 years old were the most affected group, accounting for 1,898 cases or 32 percent of the total.
Dengue infections steadily increased beginning in early March, breaching the alert threshold and exceeding the five-year average based on data from 2020 to 2024.
The peak occurred around Week 18, and while a slight decline followed, case numbers remained elevated across the region.
The 10 cities and municipalities with the most reported dengue cases are Talisay City with 223, Argao with 174, Danao City with 171, Lapu-Lapu City with 119, Sibonga with 118, Dalaguete with 112, Liloan with 110, Consolacion with 108, Moalboal with 108 and Balamban with 108.
Despite the rise in infections, the region’s case fatality rate dropped to 0.2 percent, down from 0.4 percent recorded during the same period in 2024.
Buscato emphasized that prevention begins at home. He encouraged the public to follow the “four o’clock habit,” a practice of checking and eliminating mosquito breeding sites every day at 4 p.m.
He advised residents to dedicate even just five minutes to inspect water containers like flower vases, old aquariums or unused water storage that may have been left untouched for more than a week.
“Any amount of water, whether stored intentionally or not, can become a breeding ground for mosquitoes,” Buscato warned.
He added that if dengue cases increase significantly, vector control efforts may not be immediately effective; and if the situation escalates into an outbreak, it could take up to six months to bring the disease under control.
The forum concluded with a call for proactive public health behavior.
Buscato said maintaining a healthy lifestyle, coupled with community vigilance and early detection, reduces the likelihood of individuals contracting dengue and other common diseases during the rainy season. / CDF with reports from Julie Anne Sajetarios, HNU Intern