BY: RHENA JEAN H. BATOBALANI, DEANNE MAE C. URBIZTONDO & FRANCINE ALYXIA C. PALMES/CMU Interns
THE CITY Health Office recorded 644 dengue cases from January to May 2026, reflecting a 61.5% decrease compared to the 1,674 cases reported during the same period in 2025.
Dengue-related deaths also dropped from 17 in 2025 to seven this year, marking a 58.82% reduction.
The CHO also revealed that two of the seven deaths associated with dengue died due to leptospirosis. Moreover, most of the patients were males, and the most affected age group was between 5 and 9 years old.
Melodina Babante, CHO Tropical Diseases Prevention and Control Unit program manager, attributed the decrease to the strict implementation of City Ordinance No. 0401-20, also known as the Davao City Mosquito-Borne Diseases Prevention and Control Program.
The ordinance strengthens dengue prevention efforts through community participation, environmental sanitation, and mosquito control measures across the city.
Babante also urged the remaining 102 barangays of Davao City to have their own Mosquito-Borne Disease Task Force to help the community having less to zero cases of dengue.
“Ipadayon ang pagtinabangay gikan sa community sa atong barangay, diri sa atong mga ahensya sa government: ang City Health, ang Cenro, aron mapadayon nato ang pagbaba sa kaso sa dengue sa Davao City hangtod-hangtod nani siya,” Babante said.
Despite the encouraging figures, health officials urged all barangays and residents not to be complacent. The public is reminded to maintain cleanliness, eliminate mosquito breeding sites, and observe proper safety and preventive measures to help sustain the continued decrease in dengue cases.