DOH Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo noted that the country typically sees dengue spikes every 2 to 3 years. 

He noted that in July 2019, some 80,000 cases were tallied in one month alone. He said the next dengue spikes were logged in July 2022 and July 2024. 

July falls under the Philippine rainy season, when floods and stagnant water could become a prime breeding ground for dengue-carrying mosquitoes. 

“Pansinin n’yo po lahat sila (previous dengue spikes), July. Ang kakaiba sa taon na ito…dahil nag-climate change nga tayo, napaaga. Imbes na maghintay tayo ng July, ngayon pa lang January, February, March, April nagsipag-ulanan sa paligid,” Domingo told TeleRadyo Serbisyo. 

“Yung sinasabi ni Secretary Ted [Herbosa]...we are ripe for a possible spike or outbreak,” he added. 

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The Philippines tallied 76,425 dengue cases from January 1 to March 15. This is 78 percent higher compared to 42,822 cases logged in the same period last year, the official said. 

The densely populated Calabarzon, Metro Manila, and Central Luzon regions tallied the highest cases, he said. 

Domingo noted dengue has 4 serotypes. Infection with one serotype provides immunity to that particular serotype.  

“Ang siste, siyempre every year, may mga bagong Pilipino, may mga bata, nanganganak ang ating population. So ibig sabihin, kada taon may mga bagong pulutong ng mga bata na tumatanda sila, 2 years old, 3 years old. Kaya every two to three years nakakakita tayo ng pattern na tumataas ang kaso kasi hindi pa nila nakikilala ang sakit na dengue,” he said. 

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Dengue symptoms usually begin 4 to 10 days after infection. These include high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pains, nausea, vomiting, and rash, according to the World Health Organization.

It said that in severe cases, dengue can be fatal.  

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Mosquito breeding can be prevented by covering, emptying and cleaning domestic water containers on a weekly basis and applying insecticides to outdoor containers, the WHO said. 

DOH calls on all LGUs to clean up communities to prevent dengue infections from rising