The Philippines will host the 8th Asia Dengue Summit in June to highlight the growing need to curb dengue cases and deaths across the region.

The summit, set from June 15 to 18 at the Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria in Ortigas, will gather international and local health experts to discuss strategies, research, and innovations in dengue prevention and control. 

This year’s theme is “Towards Zero Dengue Deaths: Science, Strategy, and Solidarity.”

The announcement was made on Friday, April 25, during a media briefing held in Quezon City.

Dr. Erica Tania Davillo, the chairperson of the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) Adhoc Committee on Dengue, said the summit is a platform for forging real partnerships and pushing solutions that could help eliminate dengue deaths.

“This summit is not just about information sharing. It is a platform to forge real partnerships, advance solutions, and, most importantly, rally our region toward a future where zero dengue deaths is not just an aspiration but a reality,” she said.

Key topics during the summit include clinical care for dengue patients, development of next-generation vaccines, new mosquito control technologies, and aligning regional policies to strengthen prevention efforts.

Organizers are hoping to boost regional cooperation as dengue cases continue to surge in Southeast Asia.

Organized by the PMA and the END Dengue Coalition, the summit comes at a critical time. As of mid-February 2025, the Department of Health (DOHG recorded 43,732 dengue cases nationwide, a 56 percent increase compared to the same period last year. 

In 2024, the country documented over 208,000 cases, following 220,705 cases in 2022, figures that have alarmed public health leaders.

Children aged 5 to 14 years account for most dengue infections, but experts warned that senior citizens are more vulnerable to severe outcomes.

“Older adults with pre-existing conditions are less able to recover from dengue,” Dr. Lulu Bravo, an infectious disease expert and executive director of the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination, said.

“When they get it, the consequences can be devastating,” she said.

Davillo said that the health and economic burden of dengue is especially harsh on senior citizens and their families.

She urged communities to adopt preventive measures such as using mosquito repellents, maintaining clean surroundings, and seeking early medical attention once symptoms appear, especially among seniors.

“Protecting our senior citizens from dengue isn’t just a health issue—it’s an economic imperative,” Davillo stressed.

Bravo also called for greater access to preventive tools and continued investments in education and early detection programs.