Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Saturday declared a dengue outbreak in the Philippines’ largest city after it listed 10 deaths and over 1,700 cases of the mosquito-borne disease in the first two months of 2025.

 The number of dengue cases in Quezon City in the first six weeks of 2025 is now higher than the 1,034 dengue cases recorded in the city in 2019.

 “Sampu na ang namatay at walo sa kanila ay mga menor de edad… Karamihan sa kanila ay namatay sa nakalipas na 14 na araw,” Belmonte said in a press conference. 

“Hindi po natin layunin na takutin ang publiko at magpanic ang lahat… Sa halip, ang gusto natin ay maging mas alerto ang publiko,” she said.

 Of Quezon City’s 142 barangays, the cases are concentrated in 76 villages, data from the city government showed. 

As of February 14, 2025, Barangay Batasan Hills lodged the highest number of cases at 133, followed by Barangay Payatas with 102, and Barangay Commonwealth at 92.  

 “Ito yung malalaki nating barangay sa district 2… Maraming tao dito kaya maraming naapektuhan,” said Dr. Rolando Cruz, chief epidemiologist of Quezon City. 

Nearly half of those who contracted dengue are minors between 1 and 10-years old. 

“Pag bata mas mataas ang tiyansa kasi hindi nila napapatay agad yung lamok… at yung immune response nila mas mababa,” said Ramona Abarquez, head of the Quezon City Health Department. 

All barangay health centers in Quezon City have been ordered to remain open 7 days a week in the next two weeks as residents are advised to bring anyone with fever for check ups and tests, Belmonte said. 

“Kapag napapansin na nilalagnat na yung bata, agad na dalhin sa health center It is best to be cautious and bring that child to the health center,” she said. 

“If the need is still sthere, these health centers will continue to remain open,” she said. 

“We have enough resources to address the dengue outbreak now,” she said.

 The Quezon City School Division Office has also advised schools to get rid of stagnant water and possible mosquito breeding grounds in their premises.

 Students will be allowed to wear long sleeves and jogging pants to class, while parents are encouraged to apply mosquito repellent to their children before they come to school.