The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday, April 24, reported a 23 percent drop in new dengue cases nationwide.

The agency attributed the decline to intensified mosquito control efforts in communities.

From March 16 to 29, the DOH recorded 9,289 new dengue cases, down from 12,050 cases reported between March 2 and 15.

The health department credited the reduction to heightened implementation of the “Taob, Taktak, Tuyo, Takip” campaign, which is a simple but effective strategy urging households to empty, clean, dry, and cover water containers that could serve as mosquito breeding grounds.

“Ang pagsugpo sa Dengue ay nagsisimula sa sariling bakuran. Ipagpatuloy natin ang nasimulang pagpuksa sa pinamamahayan ng lamok dahil kung walang lamok, walang dengue (The fight against dengue starts in our own backyard. Let’s continue eliminating mosquito breeding sites, because without mosquitoes, there’s no dengue),” Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said in a statement.

The DOH chief urged the public to maintain discipline in cleaning their surroundings and to prepare early for the rainy season around July or August, when stagnant water could lead to more mosquito breeding sites.

As such, the agency noted a low case fatality rate (CFR) of 0.36 percent, roughly four deaths per 1,000 dengue cases. 

Such was linked to early consultations, and faster medical response through the “Dengue Fast Lanes” in hospitals, which are designed to prevent severe complications.

From January to April 2025, the DOH recorded a total of 95,262 dengue cases nationwide. This figure marks a 75 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024, when only 54,556 cases were recorded.