There is Hope for Better Health: A New Generation of Dengue Prevention for Filipinos

AS THE Philippines grapples with an alarming rise in dengue cases, healthcare professionals (HCPs) are calling for a renewed focus on prevention and the adoption of forward-thinking solutions to address healthcare gaps in dengue management and prevention.

Exacerbated by rising global temperatures, dengue fever has become an increasingly critical seasonal challenge in the country. Frequent typhoons and heightened annual rainfall create ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes, particularly in vulnerable grassroots communities. From January to October 2024, the Philippines reported 314,785 dengue cases and 3,000 deaths, making it the country with the highest number of cases and fatalities in ASEAN. [1]

In an interview, Dr. Florentina Ty, the immediate past President of the Philippine Pediatrics Society (PPS), emphasizes the necessity of proactive dengue prevention strategies.

“We must move beyond a ‘ningas kugon’ (hardworking or great at first, but eventually, no longer continues what was started.) approach of reacting only when outbreaks have escalated, especially at the community level—and instead embed sustained, proactive measures into our healthcare system to combat dengue effectively.”

Fighting with one hand tied behind our backs

The Philippines was the first Southeast Asian nation to report a dengue epidemic in 1954. Since then, the country has consistently struggled to curb dengue cases and prevent hundreds of deaths—mostly children—each year. Furthermore, subsequent dengue infections pose a greater risk of developing severe symptoms such as hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome.

Despite all this, the Philippines has long been at a disadvantage in fighting dengue. While 24 other nations, including neighboring ASEAN countries like Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, have successfully classified dengue as a vaccine-preventable disease through comprehensive strategies, the Philippines continues to lag behind. [2]

The absence of an FDA-approved dengue vaccine in the country creates a critical gap in its efforts to address this decades-long public health challenge, leaving the nation vulnerable to repeated outbreaks and preventable deaths.

The controversy surrounding the previous dengue vaccine has further compounded the issue. While allegations against the first generation of dengue vaccine were ultimately unproven, the politicization of the situation eroded public confidence in vaccines and created a lasting setback for the country’s healthcare system.

Hope for a better tomorrow

Emerging regional strategies offer a promising blueprint for the Philippines. Through comprehensive public health interventions, neighboring countries like Sri Lanka and Singapore have demonstrated remarkable progress. Sri Lanka, in particular, has dramatically reduced dengue case fatality rates from 5% in 1996 to near-zero levels in 2024.[3]

Health experts highlight these nations’ integrated approaches—combining targeted vaccination programs, aggressive vector control measures, and widespread community education—as a model that the Philippines can adopt to address its own dengue burden.

Central to this success is the introduction of the second-generation dengue vaccine, which offers renewed hope in the fight against the disease. Already approved in several ASEAN nations, this vaccine overcomes many of its predecessor’s limitations by providing protection regardless of prior exposure to the dengue virus.

“The second-generation dengue vaccine has a higher safety profile,” emphasized Dr. Ty. “It can be administered to patients even without previous exposure to dengue.”

The new dengue vaccine, developed using a dengue virus backbone rather than the yellow fever virus used in its predecessors, marks a significant advancement in the fight against all dengue serotypes. Particularly, this vaccine has shown efficacy against dengue type 2 (DENV-2) —the strain responsible for the most severe cases.[4] By eliminating the need for prior screening to determine exposure and addressing the side effects associated with first-generation vaccines, this second-generation vaccine offers a safer, more accessible solution for widespread immunization efforts.

Achieving zero dengue death

The Department of Health’s 5S Preventive Dengue Campaign—Search and Destroy, Self-Protection, Seek Early Consultation, Support Fogging, and Sustain Hydration—remains the cornerstone of dengue prevention in the Philippines.

However, Dr. Ty stressed the critical need for a dedicated champion in each community to proactively monitor grassroots situations, ensuring the sustainability and continuity of initiatives and policies despite changes in leadership. She emphasized that combating dengue effectively requires a collective responsibility and a whole-of-community approach.

The Philippine medical community remains steadfast in its commitment to achieving “Zero Dengue Deaths by 2030,” which aligns with the World Health Organization’s sustainable development goals. “Achieving zero dengue deaths by 2030 is possible if we work together—other countries have done it,” said Dr. Ty. “By prioritizing vector control and the possibility of integrating the use of vaccines, we have a stronger chance of reducing dengue cases and reaching zero mortality.”

Dr. Ty also underscored the lessons from the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, which demonstrated how widespread immunization and robust public health strategies can effectively reduce infection rates and save lives. She noted that the success of these campaigns provides a valuable framework for dengue prevention, highlighting the parallel significance of integrating vaccines to complement existing healthcare practices and mitigate disease burdens.

Healthcare professionals continue the call toward sustainable actions and innovative solutions to combat dengue effectively. Just as neighboring countries have made significant strides in reducing dengue mortality, Filipino healthcare professionals hope for a better future where our communities are safeguarded from the devastating impact of this preventable disease.