Cebu City dengue cases climb 12% to 1,228; 10 deaths logged
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Cebu City has recorded 1,228 dengue cases and 10 deaths from January 1 to July 18, marking a 12.35-percent increase from the same period last year.
Councilor Dave Tumulak, chairman of the Cebu City Council’s Committee on Health, raised the alarm on Thursday, July 30. He urged residents and barangay officials to strengthen dengue prevention measures. He cited stagnant water left by successive rains as one of the primary factors driving mosquito breeding.
“Gikan sa sunod-sunod nga mga pag-ulan sa atong dakbayan karong tuiga, daghang mga kanal ang nag-stagnant, nakalimtan paglimpyo ug paghawan sa mga basura. Kana ka-ali hinuon sa dagan sa tubig nga maoy na-itlogan sa mga lamok nga nagdala ug dengue,” he said.
(Because of the successive rains that have hit our city this year, many drainage canals have stagnant water and remain clogged with uncollected garbage. These conditions obstruct water flow and create breeding grounds for mosquitoes that carry dengue.)
Dengue cases continue to outpace last year’s records
Data from the Cebu City Health Department (CCHD) showed that the city logged 1,228 confirmed and suspected dengue cases with 10 fatalities during the first half of the year. That’s more than the 1,093 cases and three deaths recorded during the same months in 2025.
The latest figures place the city’s case fatality rate at 0.81 percent.
Although health officials noted that reported cases peaked during Morbidity Week 26 with 78 infections before gradually declining, they said this year’s trend remains higher than last year’s overall pattern.
From July 12 to 18, the city recorded 17 new dengue cases.
Young children remain most affected
Despite the increase, the CCHD said that dengue transmission in Cebu City has not exceeded the alert or epidemic threshold and remains under the Department of Health’s endemic classification.
The CCHD reported that dengue patients ranged from 2 months to 96 years old, with a median age of 12 years.
Children aged 1 to 10 years accounted for the largest share of infections, comprising 498 cases, or 40.55 percent of all reported cases.
More males contracted dengue than females, with 661 cases, representing 53.83 percent of the total caseload.
Guadalupe tops case list
Guadalupe recorded the highest number of dengue infections in Cebu City with 80 cases, followed by:
Basak San Nicolas – 64Lahug – 57Labangon – 53Tisa – 48Mambaling – 44Kalunasan – 40Punta Princesa – 37Pasil – 36Camputhaw, Duljo, Quiot and Talamban – 34 cases each
Meanwhile, the barangays with the highest dengue incidence rate per 1,000 population were San Nicolas Central, Pasil, Santo Niño, Sawang Calero, Ermita, Sirao, Carreta, Kamagayan, San Antonio, and Sambag II.
Ten deaths recorded
The city documented 10 dengue-related deaths during Morbidity Weeks 2, 4, 6, 9, 17, and 23.
Four fatalities came from the city’s west health district, three from the east district, one from the central district, and two from the north district.
All patients received treatment at hospitals in Cebu City.
Cebu City Medical Center handled half of the fatal cases. At the same time, Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, Cebu North General Hospital, Adventist Hospital-Cebu, St. Vincent General Hospital, and VisayasMed Hospital each managed one fatality.
Councilor urges community action
Tumulak called on residents to eliminate stagnant water around their homes and communities to prevent mosquitoes from breeding.
“Kihangyo namo ang publiko nga magmatngon ug magtinabangay kita paglimpyo sa mga napundong tubig sa atong lugar para dili kini mahimong itlogan sa lamok nga nagdala ug dengue,” he said.
(We urge the public to remain vigilant and work together to remove stagnant water in our communities so mosquitoes that carry dengue cannot breed.)
He also encouraged residents to use mosquito repellents and mosquito nets and to seek medical attention immediately if fever develops.
Local dengue control measures
“Ug aduna nay sintomas sa hilanat, dool dayon sa atong health center o mokonsulta sa mga doktor,” Tumulak said.
(If you develop symptoms such as fever, immediately visit the nearest health center or consult a doctor.)
Tumulak likewise urged barangay officials to coordinate closely with the City Health Department in implementing localized dengue control measures.
“Mga barangay officials, palihug lang sa pag-coordinate sa atong Health Department para maplano unsaon pagsumpo ang makamatay nga dengue diha sa inyong barangay,” he said.
(Barangay officials, please coordinate with the City Health Department so we can plan how to suppress deadly dengue in your communities.)
Health department pushes 5S strategy
The Cebu City Health Department continues to promote the Department of Health’s 5S dengue prevention strategy, which calls on the public to:
- Search and destroy mosquito breeding sites;
- Secure self-protection by using repellents, long sleeves, and mosquito nets;
- Seek early consultation when dengue symptoms appear;
- Support vector control measures, including larviciding and misting operations; and
- Sustain hydration, especially for suspected dengue patients.
Health authorities also advised residents to keep their surroundings clean, properly dispose of garbage, regularly clean gutters and water containers, and participate in community cleanup drives to reduce mosquito breeding habitats.
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