Be honest, dengue patients told

LOCALS SEEKING free check-ups in health centers should be honest in disclosing where they contracted dengue fever to allow the local health department officials to accurately identify dengue hotspots within the city, an official from the Manila Health Department (MHD) said.

MHD Communicable Disease Division Coordinator Domingo Boncan said the lack of transparency from some patients caused an increase in dengue cases reported in barangays, pushing local government units to be reactive and conduct mitigation measures in areas that may not be an actual source of disease.

“Kailangan talaga tulungan tayo ng community at [magbigay ng] honest info… Wala lang lokohan,” Boncan told The Capital.

“Ang pangit lang na nagkakaroon ng maraming kaso ‘yung barangay pero hindi naman galing sa kanya… Kaya ang nangyayari, ‘yung barangay, nagiging active na rin.”

The coordinator cited that several patients failed to provide accurate medical history, with some using a relative’s address.

“Malalaman mo na lang hindi pala siya [nakatira] doon, tapos naka-address sa city hall ng Manila kasi yung tiyahin yung ginamit para makapasok sa ospital,” said Boncan.

Boncan noted that the "mobile" nature of permanent and non-permanent residents makes them vulnerable to catching the disease outside Manila, which hampers logistical operations by the local health department.

“Halos puro paupahan ang mga tao rito eh, ‘di ba, yung mga bahay. Bibihira yata yung mga taga-Maynila lang talaga,” Boncan said.

From January to the third week of March 2025, data obtained by The Capital from MHD showed a total of 1,041 probable and confirmed cases across the city’s six congressional districts.

January saw the highest number of dengue cases at 726 cases, but the numbers began to drop to 69 cases in February.

A total of 40 cases were recorded, with seven of the figure being probable cases while 33 were confirmed during the third week of March, marking a 31.03% decline from the 58 cases reported the previous week.

Dr. Eduardo Serrano, chief of the MHD Communicable Disease Division, noted District 1 or Tondo area as the top source of dengue infections, with 653 recorded cases, while District 3, which houses Binondo, Quiapo, San Nicolas and Santa Cruz, had the lowest with 230 cases.

From the third week of February to the third week of March, MHD data showed that a clustering of 29 cases was identified in seven barangays in District 1.

Slightly more men than women contracted the disease. Most of the patients recorded were aged from 10 to 14, followed by the 5 to 9 age group. Serrano said that this is due to the active lifestyle of the children, making them more prone to mosquito bites.

Boncan also said that the local health department had already been mitigating the spread of dengue cases even before they rise.

Misting operations and the distribution of anti-mosquito larvae (larvicide) supplies were conducted by MHD in collaboration with the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) to help mitigate the perceived spread of the disease based on available data.

Serrano noted the ongoing implementation of community awareness, health education, legislation, environmental sanitation, mosquito control, and surveillance of human and mosquito cases (CHLEMS), which are anti-dengue initiatives of their department.

MHD also launched “Kapitan Ligtas,” an app intended to teach residents about preventing illness and what to do at times of sickness or contagion. The app was designed to capture the interest of children who are vulnerable to dengue. Andrei Gutierrez and Marc Stephen Dalida