Quezon City: The number of dengue cases worldwide has doubled to over 14 million in 2024, with Asia accounting for 70 percent of the global burden, a scientific working group said Monday. Asia Dengue Voice and Action (ADVA) Group steering committee member Maria Rosario Capeding highlighted that the Philippines is one of the countries in the region experiencing a growing number of dengue cases.
According to Philippines News Agency, Capeding emphasized during a press conference at the 8th Asia Dengue Summit in Quezon City that dengue is preventable. She stated that with scientific innovation, the right strategies, and strong community partnerships, achieving zero dengue deaths is possible. Capeding stressed the importance of protecting lives, eliminating preventable deaths, and combating this global threat, noting that the Philippines can learn from the successful campaigns of neighboring countries.
Summit organizing committee co-chair Fatima Gimenez remarked that the government alone cannot tackle the country's dengue problem. She asserted that every sector, including health workers, advocates, the public, and media, must collaborate to reverse the trend of dengue. She also mentioned that vaccination, along with public and private sector coordination, is a crucial method to control the disease.
ADVA international adviser and Philippine Foundation for Vaccination executive director Lulu Bravo noted that vaccination is the most cost-effective preventive measure for dengue and other diseases. She expressed concern that despite the Philippines battling dengue for over 70 years, the country lags in vaccination efforts compared to other Eastern Asian countries. Bravo has been advocating for the approval of second-generation anti-dengue vaccines, highlighting that their team has conducted clinical trials for eight years and began the application process with the Food and Drug Administration two years ago.
Meanwhile, ADVA international adviser Tikki Pang pointed out that vaccine eligibility varies across nations. He stated that in countries like the Philippines and Malaysia, everyone is at risk, but eligibility depends on which age group is particularly affected or vulnerable. In the Philippines, it is primarily the pediatric and young age group.
Data from the Department of Health (DOH) shows that 119,774 dengue cases were recorded from January 1 to May 31 this year. The DOH observed a downward trend for over ten consecutive weeks, with 5,900 cases reported from May 4 to 17, marking a 12-percent decrease from the 6,707 cases logged in the preceding period (April 20 to May 3). However, the agency warned that the number of cases is expected to rise with the rainy season.
Dengue viruses are transmitted to people through the bites of infected Aedes species mosquitoes. Symptoms include high fever, severe headache, muscle and joint pains, nausea, rashes, pain behind the eyes, and vomiting. Individuals experiencing dengue-like symptoms are urged to seek immediate medical consultation to prevent complications and ensure timely treatment.
