There has been an increase in dengue cases worldwide due to climate change, and the Philippines recorded the highest number of cases and deaths in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2024.
These findings were disclosed by Dr. Rachelle Vicencio at a media roundtable discussion on dengue prevention and control organized by the Bacolod City government, Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, Philippine Pediatric Society, and Takeda Healthcare Philippines at the Bacolod City College on Wednesday, Jan. 28.
In 2025, it was also pointed out that several cities and provinces in the Philippines declared states of calamity due to increased dengue cases.
MULTI-PRONGED APPROACH
Dr. Alexis Milan, a Philippine Pediatric Society member, said that the World Health Organization (WHO) itself is proposing a multi-pronged approach to prevent dengue.
This includes the TAK-003 dengue vaccine, which is expected to be available in the Philippines soon as a preventive measure, since there is no specific treatment for dengue yet, she said.
Milan explained that TAK-003, from the Japanese manufacturer Takeda, is a second-generation vaccine against dengue that has been shown to provide protection against the disease over the long term.
EFFICACY, TRIAL DATA
TAK-003 is described as having demonstrated efficacy and safety against dengue in the pivotal Phase 3 Tetravalent Immunization against Dengue Efficacy Study (TIDES) trial.
Recent data from the trial, collected over a period of seven years, showed that TAK-003 provides sustained protection against virologically confirmed dengue and hospitalization, with no important safety signals.
The TIDES trial involved over 20,000 children and adolescents living in dengue-endemic areas, including the Philippines.
Approval is still pending with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is expected to be granted in the Philippines this year, Milan said.
GLOBAL IMPLEMENTATION
TAK-003 has already received authorization for use in 41 countries worldwide, including the European Union, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Argentina, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam, she said.
To date, approximately 20 million doses of TAK-003 have been distributed across 11 dengue-endemic countries.
TAK-003 is also included on the World Health Organization’s list of prequalified vaccines, affirming its compliance with international standards for quality, safety, and suitability for use in public immunization programs, she said.
Other countries are already implementing the dengue vaccine as part of their national immunization programs, Milan added.
That is why they are focusing on the campaign to enable the public to fully understand what the dengue vaccine can do, she said.
BACOLOD SITUATION
While the health community awaits the FDA’s decision on TAK-003, a Bacolod City health official reminded the public that dengue continues to pose a significant threat to people’s health and that the public should not let their guard down.
Dr. Grace Tan, head of the City Health Office Environment Sanitation Division, who spoke at the media roundtable, said that people and communities must continue to take the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of dengue.
Although fewer cases were logged in Bacolod in 2025, it remains important to take the necessary steps to prevent the possible spread of the disease, Tan said.
There were seven probable dengue deaths and 1,040 dengue cases in Bacolod City from January 1, 2025, to January 3, 2026, she said. Compared to the 2024 data, this is 60.4 percent lower.
WARNING VS. COMPLACENCY
“While reported dengue cases this year are significantly lower than last year, that doesn’t mean we should be complacent and assume that it is no longer a problem,” Tan said.
“Our city has experienced dengue surges before, and we should do our best to keep it from happening again. In many other parts of the country, dengue continues to pose a considerable public health challenge, and we need to do our part in preventing the spread of the disease,” she added.
MISINFORMATION
Vicencio and Milan, who are pediatricians, said dengue remains a leading cause of hospitalization among children in endemic areas like the Philippines. They warned that misinformation and reliance on unproven remedies can delay proper medical care, increasing the risk of complications and death, particularly among young patients.
They also cautioned the public against unverified dengue remedies circulating online. In particular, they warned the public against the use of tawa-tawa or gatas-gatas as herbal treatments, emphasizing that there is no current scientific evidence to support their effectiveness.*