THE Davao City Health Office (CHO) reported a decline in dengue cases in Davao City but is intensifying its anti-dengue campaign to further reduce infections.
Melodina Babante, chief of CHO’s Tropical Division, said they recorded 141 dengue cases from January 1 to 15, 2025, marking a 37.3 percent decrease from the 225 cases reported during the same period in 2024. Most cases involved children aged five to nine, with a higher number of female patients.
“Naga-decrease siya as of karon na year into 37.3 percent but unfortunately last year wala tay death sa atoang dengue but karon naa tay isa sa Bucana (Cases have dropped this year, but unfortunately, unlike last year when there were no recorded fatalities, we now have one dengue-related death in Bucana),” Babante said during the ISpeak Media Forum on January 30, 2025, at the City Mayor’s Office.
She attributed the decline to proactive measures, including enhanced surveillance, improved logistics, and the activation of the Barangay Mosquito-Borne Viral Disease Task Force. However, only 54 out of 182 barangays had established a task force as of December 2024.
Babante said CHO is considering amending City Ordinance No. 0401-20, Series of 2020, to enforce compliance and introduce penalties for barangays that fail to create one.
Despite the overall decline, Babante confirmed one dengue-related death this month involving a child from Kidapawan City who had been vacationing in Davao. CHO believes the child contracted the virus in Kidapawan before showing symptoms upon arrival in Davao.
CHO has identified several high-risk barangays, including Bucana, Buhangin, Calinan, Catalunan Grande, Tibungco Proper, Talomo Proper, Sasa, Maa, Indangan, and Marilog.
Babante disclosed that as of December 2024, only 54 out of 182 barangays in the city had established a Barangay Mosquito-Borne Viral Disease Task Force.
She said the City Health Office (CHO) is considering amending City Ordinance No. 0401-20, Series of 2020, which requires all barangays to form a task force. The proposed amendment may include penalties for non-compliance, as the ordinance has been in effect for three years.
She urged barangays without a task force, even those with low dengue cases, to establish one. Babante emphasized that barangays with active task forces have seen a notable decline in dengue cases, proving the effectiveness of their efforts.
To further strengthen anti-dengue efforts, CHO is waiting for the issuance of citation tickets to penalize property owners with mosquito breeding sites. Babante hopes the tickets will be available by the first quarter of 2025 to reinforce public awareness of dengue risks.
In 2024, CHO recorded 7,089 dengue cases and 55 deaths, a rise from 6,784 cases and 52 deaths in 2023.
The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that dengue, a mosquito-borne viral infection, can cause severe complications and fatalities, particularly in tropical regions like the Philippines. RGP
