Epidemiology of Dengue Disease in the Philippines

Dengue disease is a tropical and subtropical mosquito borne viral illness and major

health concern in the Philippines. The rising incidence of dengue disease may be related

to a growing population, increasing urbanization, improvements of surveillance, and the

limited success of vector control measures. Dengue is a growing health concern in the

Philippines. Outbreaks were reported in 1926 and the first recorded epidemic in

Southeast Asia occurred in Manila in 1954. Dengue virus is transmitted by female

mosquitoes mainly of the species Aedes Aegpty and to a lesser extent Ae.albopictus.

This mosquito also transmits chikungunya, yellow fever and zika infecton. Dengue is

widespread throughout the tropics with local variations in risk influenced by rainfall,

temperature, and unplanned rapid urbanization. Severe dengue was first recognized in

the 1950’s during dengue epidemics in the Philippines and Thailand.

Background of the study

Dengue is fast emerging pandemic-prone viral disease in many parts of the world,

especially in urban poor areas, suburbs and the countryside but also affects more affluent

neighborhoods in tropical and subtropical countries. One of the tropical countries

worldwide is the Philippines. The first epidemic of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) was

described in Southeast Asia, Manila in 1953. After that, outbreaks of dengue fever

became more common. Due to the increasing rate of dengue every year, the Philippine

Red Cross has intensified its health education and information drive following the reported

prevalence of dengue cases in several areas in the country, including Metro Manila.

According to Philippine Red Cross (PRC) the best way to prevent dengue is the “4s

strategy”, it aims for search and destroy mosquito breeding places, it also seek early
consultation whenever symptoms are observed. Do self-protective measures like wearing

pajama and long-sleeved shirts, and say no to indiscriminate fogging.

According to Department of Health (DOH)-8 report, they stated that it bears the

intensified anti-dengue campaign in the recent past. The dengue cases reduced to 1779

for the period January 1 to July 7, 2018 from cases 2,283 recorded during the same period

last year, majority of which came from Leyte province. The department of health further

warned public not to ignore the symptoms of the disease, rather act on it once.

The National Prevention and Control Program formulated in the year 1993 and

piloted in two regions of the country, which are the National Capital Region (NCR) in

Luzon and Region 7 in Visayas with five year medium plan. The highlight of the Dengue

prevention and Control Program include its goals, objective, strengths, support system,

program policies, guiding principles, program status and future actions. This emphasis on

an effective integrated vector control approach which is community-based and manage,

planned, and sustained by the community itself

Campaign for dengue prevention of the Department of Education: DepEd has

embarked on a campaign to ensure the protection of the students against dengue h-fever.

DepEd drive seeks to keep schools well-informed on how to prevent the incidence and

spread the disease. The school officials have been instructed to mobilize their personnel

and health nutrition staff to disseminate information on the prevention control of the

disease and to practice four o’clock habit. It is an initiative of the Philippine government

that requests residents to practice cleaning of their surroundings and draining water

containers to deny mosquitoes a place which to lay their eggs. The DepEd officials urged

schools to closely collaborate with parent-teacher community associations, local

government units, and city/municipal Health officers in the conduct 4s strategy against

dengue.