DENGUE fever continues to be a significant public health concern in the Philippines, which is experiencing recurring outbreaks. As of July 27th, the Department of Health (DoH) reported a total of 128,834 cases, which is 33 percent higher than the same period last year, when there were 97,211 cases.

Dengue is endemic in the Philippines: it is continuously present, and outbreaks are more common during the rainy season, typically lasting from June to November. Recent reports have shown a significant increase in dengue cases, alarming health officials and local government units. DoH said that certain regions, such as Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Cagayan Valley and Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), have experienced a continuous rise in dengue numbers over the past six weeks, leading up to July 27th.